POW MIA Flags are designed to honor all the American POWs and those missing in action from all military conflicts. It is a symbol of America’s concern and commitment to resolve as fully as possible the fates of all Americans still prisoner, missing in action or unaccounted for from the wars in Southeast Asia. It is flown beside the American flag at certain locations on six National Observance days, including Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day and National POW/MIA Recognition Day. On other days that the U.S. flag is flown at those locations, the POW/MIA flag is flown directly below (the viewer’s left) and no larger than the United States flag. The POW/MIA flag is also flown at DoD dining facilities and on some government buildings.Learn more:https://ultimateflags.com/collections/pow-mia-flags/
Honoring Heroes: Understanding POW MIA Flags
It was originally created for the National League of Families of American POWs and Missing in Southeast Asia (now known as the National League of Families). It is a black field with a silhouette of a prisoner of war in front of a guard tower and barbed wire, with the words “POW/MIA” and “YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN” on it. The silhouette was modeled after Newt Heisley’s son, who had been in the Bataan Death March in WWII. The slogan was a campaign of the League to keep alive the issue of POWs and to find out what happened to them.
The League’s POW/MIA flag was made by Annin & Company and distributed for free. Heisley decided not to seek trademark or copyright protection for the design so that it could be used as widely as possible to advocate for improved treatment of and answers about America’s POWs. This policy ensured that the League’s POW/MIA flag would always remain in the public domain and never become a commercial product.