Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 179 / Monday, September 18, 2017 / Presidential Documents 43663 

Proclamation 9638 of September 13, 2017 

National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2017 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Americans are blessed with many freedoms thanks to the hard-earned battle 

victories and tremendous sacrifices of our military men and women. The 

members of our Armed Forces shine a light of freedom throughout the 

world, and as we celebrate our returning heroes, we also remember our 

heroes who never returned home. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 

our Nation recognizes all American prisoners of war and service members 

missing in action who have valiantly honored their commitment to this 

great country. 

It is our sacred obligation to pay tribute to the thousands of men and 

women of our Armed Forces who have been imprisoned while serving 

in conflicts and who have yet to return to American soil. We reflect on 

the brave Americans who, while guarding our freedom and our way of 

life, spent years of their youth imprisoned in distant lands. They paid 

an enormous price and remained dedicated to our sacred principles, even 

while under extreme duress. 

We do not leave our fellow man or woman behind, and we do not rest 

until our mission is complete. For more than three decades, our country 

has conducted investigation and recovery operations in Southeast Asia with 

the help of the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Whether 

in Southeast Asia, or in South Korea, Europe, the South Pacific, and in 

all other corners of the globe, we are committed to this most honorable 

mission of fully accounting for our missing personnel. We are encouraged 

by the progress made, but know our mission is ongoing until every Soldier, 

Sailor, Airman, Coast Guardsman, and Marine missing in the line of duty 

is accounted for. 

As Commander in Chief, it is my solemn duty to keep all Americans safe. 

I will never forget our heroes held prisoner or who have gone missing 

in action while serving their country. Today, we recognize not just the 

tremendous sacrifices of our service members, but also those of their families 

who still seek answers. We are steadfastly committed to bringing solace 

to those who wait for the fullest possible accounting of their loved ones. 

On September 15, 2017, the stark black and white banner symbolizing America’s Missing in Action and Prisoners of War will be flown over the White 

House; the United States Capitol; the Departments of State, Defense, and 

Veterans Affairs; the Selective Service System Headquarters; the World War 

II Memorial; the Korean War Veterans Memorial; the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; United States post offices; national cemeteries; and other locations 

across our country. We raise this flag as a solemn reminder of our obligation 

to always remember the sacrifices made to defend our Nation. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 15, 2017, 

as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I call upon the people of the United 

States to join me in saluting all American POWs and those missing in 

action who valiantly served our country. I call upon Federal, State, and 


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43664 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 179 / Monday, September 18, 2017 / Presidential Documents 

local government officials and private organizations to observe this day 

with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day 

of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of 

the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 

forty-second. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20004 

Filed 9–15–17; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3295–F7–P 


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