LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer is recognizing Friday, September 16th as POW/MIA Recognition Day to remember and honor the returned U.S. Prisoners of War and all Americans still captured, unaccounted for, or missing in action.
In a statement, Governor Whitmer said,“There are tens of thousands of these Americans—including fellow Michiganders—who are still missing. Their families, friends and communities all live with uncertainty regarding their fate, and we must continue to be unrelenting in our pursuit to bring them home. On POW/MIA Recognition Day, I encourage all Michiganders to remember and honor the incredible sacrifices made by these service members on behalf of their state and country.”
Approximately 1,500 Americans are still missing from the Vietnam War, 7,500 from the Korean War, 72,000 from World War II and 126 from the Cold War.
“More than 80,000 Americans are still unaccounted for and we must ensure that the search for those missing will continue,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
“In support of our POWs and those service members who are still MIA, we encourage Michiganders to fly a POW/MIA flag, attend a remembrance event or exhibit at a local museum or discuss major military battles to keep the memory of POW and MIA troops alive.”
National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on the third Friday in September to remember the sacrifices of POWs and service members who are MIA. On March 28, 1988, Ronald Reagan signed into law a separate holiday for National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day which is observed annually on April 9.
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