KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On this National POW/MIA Recognition Day, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) solemnly renews its sacred commitment to the Americans who have not returned home. Since World War I, more than 142,000 Americans have endured the unspeakable hardships of captivity as prisoners of war, and less than 81,000 service members remain missing and unaccounted for from conflicts dating back to World War II.
Our nation’s service members have long carried a simple promise into battle: never leave a fallen comrade behind. That promise does not expire with the passing of time, and it cannot be diminished by the distance of decades. Behind every name is a life, a story and a family that has carried the weight of uncertainty for generations. The VFW stands firmly beside the families who continue to wait for answers and remains committed to ensuring America keeps faith with those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
The VFW is a steadfast supporter of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and its vital mission to recover, identify and repatriate our missing. But this mission is a race against time. The work is difficult, but every recovery and identification brings one more family a measure of peace and fulfills one more part of our nation’s promise.
That is why the VFW will continue to urge Congress to provide DPAA with the full funding and resources necessary to carry out this sacred mission. We will continue advocating for the diplomatic access, research, recovery operations and partnerships necessary to bring our missing home.
On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and every day, the more than 1.3 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary will keep the POW/MIA flag flying, the candle of hope burning and our commitment will remain unwavering. We will not rest until they are all accounted for.