H. Res. 1630 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 28, 2010. 

Whereas the United States depends upon the service and sacrifices of courageous young Americans to protect and uphold the nation’s ideals; 

Whereas generations of American men and women have 

served bravely and honorably in foreign conflicts over the 

course of the history of the United States; 

Whereas thousands of these Americans serving overseas were 

detained and interned as prisoners of war (‘‘POW’’) or 

went missing in action (‘‘MIA’’) during their wartime 

service; 

Whereas more than 138,000 members of the United States 

Armed Forces who fought in World War II, the Korean 

War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and 

Operation Iraqi Freedom were detained or interned as 

POWs, many suffering and thousands dying from starvation, forced labor, and severe torture; 

Whereas, in addition to those POWs, more than 84,000 members of the Armed Forces who served in those wars remain listed by the Department of Defense as unaccounted for; 

Whereas there remains today members of the Armed Forces 

being held in Iraq and Afghanistan; 
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Whereas these thousands of American POWs and MIAs gave 

an immeasurable sacrifice for their country and for the 

well-being of their fellow Americans; 

Whereas their bravery and sacrifice should be forever memorialized and honored by all Americans; 

Whereas the uncertainty, hardship, and pain endured by the 

families and loved ones of POWs and MIAs should not 

be forgotten; 

Whereas Congress first passed a resolution commemorating 

‘‘National POW/MIA Recognition Day’’ in 1979; 

Whereas the President annually honors ‘‘National POW/MIA 

Recognition Day’’ on the third Friday of each September 

through Presidential proclamation; and 

Whereas in 2010, ‘‘National POW/MIA Recognition Day’’ is 

honored on September 17: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) recognizes that National POW/MIA Recognition 

Day is one of the six days specified by law (pursuant to 

section 902 of title 36, United States Code) as a day on 

which the POW/MIA flag is to be flown over specified 

Federal facilities and national cemeteries, military installations, and post offices; 

(2) extends the gratitude of the House of Representatives and the nation to those who have served the 

United States in captivity to hostile forces as prisoners 

of war; 
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(3) recognizes and honors the more than 84,000 

members of the Armed Forces who remain unaccounted 

for and their families; 

(4) recognizes the untiring efforts of national POW/ 

MIA organizations in ensuring that America never forgets the contribution of the nation’s prisoners of war 

and unaccounted for military personnel; 

(5) applauds the personnel of the Defense POW/ 

Missing Personnel Office, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, the Armed Forces Identification Laboratory, the Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory, and the 

military departments for continuing their mission of 

achieving the fullest possible accounting of all Americans 

unaccounted for as a result of the previous conflicts of 

the United States; and 

(6) calls on all Americans to recognize National 

POW/MIA Recognition Day with appropriate remembrances, ceremonies, and activities. 

Attest: 

Clerk.