[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 20, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 64791-64792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20486]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2023 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 64791]]

                Proclamation 10624 of September 14, 2023

                
National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2023

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Unbreaking and unbending in their devotion to duty, our 
                service members have sacrificed everything to keep our 
                people and our democracy safe. While more than 81,000 
                of these brave service members still remain missing and 
                unaccounted for, they are not--and will never be--
                forgotten. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we 
                honor the devotion and courage of all those missing and 
                unaccounted for, renew our commitments to their 
                families, and promise to never cease in our efforts to 
                bring them home.

                Above the White House and the United States Capitol--
                and at military bases, memorials, cemeteries, and homes 
                across America--we fly the POW/MIA flag, and we 
                remember what it represents: the thousands of spouses, 
                parents, sons, daughters, and loved ones who served and 
                sacrificed for our freedom and future; loved ones who 
                mourn with unanswered questions still in their hearts; 
                and the debt of gratitude we owe them that we can never 
                fully repay. We cannot and must not forget our 
                obligation to our unreturned heroes--no matter how long 
                it takes.

                Earlier this year, I had the honor of announcing that 
                after over seven decades of being unaccounted for, 
                United States Army Corporal Luther H. Story--a Medal of 
                Honor recipient who gave his life fighting in the 
                Korean War--was no longer missing. His remains were 
                identified, returned to his family, and laid to rest 
                near his Georgia hometown with the highest honor he 
                deserves. His story is just one powerful reminder that, 
                just as our service members have kept ultimate faith to 
                our country, we must do everything we can to keep faith 
                for them.

                On this day, may we recommit to our search efforts for 
                all those missing and unaccounted for, as well as our 
                support for their families. May we honor the remarkable 
                bravery, sacrifice, and commitment to service of former 
                prisoners of war. And may we continue to keep the flame 
                of liberty burning bright and continue working toward a 
                more perfect Union for which our service members 
                sacrifice so much.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of 
                the United States, do hereby proclaim September 15, 
                2023, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Let all who 
                read this know that America remains grateful to our 
                heroes held in the worst imaginable conditions as 
                prisoners of war. Additionally, I encourage my fellow 
                citizens across the Nation to reflect on today and let 
                us not forget those heroes who never returned home from 
                the battlefields around the world or their families who 
                are still waiting for answers. I call upon Federal, 
                State, and local government officials and private 
                organizations to observe this day with appropriate 
                ceremonies and activities.

[[Page 64792]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                eighth.
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                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2023-20486
Filed 9-19-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F3-P