Presidential Documents

64791 

Federal Register 

Vol. 88, No. 181 

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 

Title 3— 

The President 

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. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with FR_PREZDOC0
64792 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2023 / Presidential Documents 

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. 

[FR Doc. 2023–20486 

Filed 9–19–23; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F3–P 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with FR_PREZDOC0BIDEN.EPS</GPH>