Today is also POW/MIA Recognition Day. #YouAreNotForgotten⠀ ⠀ The POW/MIA remembrance movement honors America’s prisoners of war, those who are still missing in action and their families.⠀ ⠀ Many of our service members suffered as prisoners of war during several decades of varying conflicts. While some of them made it home, tens of thousands more never did.⠀ ⠀ According to a Congressional Research Service report on POWs:⠀ – 130,201 World War II service members were imprisoned; 14,072 them died⠀ – 7,140 Korean War service members were imprisoned; 2,701 of them died⠀ – 725 Vietnam War service members were imprisoned; 64 of them died⠀ – 37 service members were imprisoned during conflicts since 1991, including both Gulf wars; none are still in captivity⠀ ⠀ According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 83,114 Americans who fought in those wars are still missing, including:⠀ – 73,515 from World War II (an approximate number due to limited or conflicting data)⠀ – 7,841 from the Korean War⠀ – 1,626 from Vietnam⠀ – 126 from the Cold War⠀ – 6 from conflicts since 1991⠀ ⠀ For every POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982, the flag has flown just below the stars and stripes at the White House – the only other flag to ever do so. In 1998, Congress ordered it to also be displayed on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.⠀ ⠀ Held during repatriations at Arlington National Cemetery, the black and white POW/MIA design reminds you of the extreme sacrifices of our POW/MIAs and America’s pact to them: That we will take care of them and, no matter how much time has passed, they will make it back home.