Today is also POW/MIA Recognition Day. #YouAreNotForgotten⠀ ⠀ The POW/MIA remembrance movement honors America’s prisoners of war, those who are still missing in action and their families.⠀ ⠀ Many of our service members suffered as prisoners of war during several decades of varying conflicts. While some of them made it home, tens of thousands more never did.⠀ ⠀ According to a Congressional Research Service report on POWs:⠀ – 130,201 World War II service members were imprisoned; 14,072 them died⠀ – 7,140 Korean War service members were imprisoned; 2,701 of them died⠀ – 725 Vietnam War service members were imprisoned; 64 of them died⠀ – 37 service members were imprisoned during conflicts since 1991, including both Gulf wars; none are still in captivity⠀ ⠀ According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 83,114 Americans who fought in those wars are still missing, including:⠀ – 73,515 from World War II (an approximate number due to limited or conflicting data)⠀ – 7,841 from the Korean War⠀ – 1,626 from Vietnam⠀ – 126 from the Cold War⠀ – 6 from conflicts since 1991⠀ ⠀ For every POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982, the flag has flown just below the stars and stripes at the White House – the only other flag to ever do so. In 1998, Congress ordered it to also be displayed on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.⠀ ⠀ Held during repatriations at Arlington National Cemetery, the black and white POW/MIA design reminds you of the extreme sacrifices of our POW/MIAs and America’s pact to them: That we will take care of them and, no matter how much time has passed, they will make it back home. – Arlington Media

Today is also POW/MIA Recognition Day. #YouAreNotForgotten⠀ ⠀ The POW/MIA remembrance movement honors America’s prisoners of war, those who are still missing in action and their families.⠀ ⠀ Many of our service members suffered as prisoners of war during several decades of varying conflicts. While some of them made it home, tens of thousands more never did.⠀ ⠀ According to a Congressional Research Service report on POWs:⠀ – 130,201 World War II service members were imprisoned; 14,072 them died⠀ – 7,140 Korean War service members were imprisoned; 2,701 of them died⠀ – 725 Vietnam War service members were imprisoned; 64 of them died⠀ – 37 service members were imprisoned during conflicts since 1991, including both Gulf wars; none are still in captivity⠀ ⠀ According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 83,114 Americans who fought in those wars are still missing, including:⠀ – 73,515 from World War II (an approximate number due to limited or conflicting data)⠀ – 7,841 from the Korean War⠀ – 1,626 from Vietnam⠀ – 126 from the Cold War⠀ – 6 from conflicts since 1991⠀ ⠀ For every POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982, the flag has flown just below the stars and stripes at the White House – the only other flag to ever do so. In 1998, Congress ordered it to also be displayed on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.⠀ ⠀ Held during repatriations at Arlington National Cemetery, the black and white POW/MIA design reminds you of the extreme sacrifices of our POW/MIAs and America’s pact to them: That we will take care of them and, no matter how much time has passed, they will make it back home.

Post author:Clifford Crittenden
Post published:September 18, 2020
Post category:Uncategorized

¹ DEPENDENT SERVICES
When a spouse or other dependent of a current or former member of the Armed Forces is buried at Arlington, the military service in which the primary party served will provide:

A chaplain
A casket team (body bearers / pall bearers)

No other military funeral honors will be rendered unless the spouse also served in the military.

² STANDARD HONORS SERVICES
Enlisted service members, WO-1 through CW-3, and O-1 through O-3, interred/inurned at Arlington National Cemetery will receive honors provided by the decedent’s branch of service. These honors include:

A chaplain
A casket team (body bearers / pall bearers)
A firing party
A bugler

³ FULL HONORS SERVICES
In addition to the standard military funeral honors, some Commissioned and Warrant officers and senior non-Commissioned Officer with a pay grade of E-9, CW-4 and CW-5, and O-4 and above:

ARMY: Sergeant Major (SGM), Command Sergeant Major (CSM), Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA),
NAVY & COAST GUARD: Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO), Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), or Coast Guard (MCPOCG),
MARINES: Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt), Sergeant Major (SgtMaj), Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SgtMajMC),
AIR FORCE: Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt), First Sergeant, Command Chief Master Sergeant, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF),

are eligible for full military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery including:

A chaplain
A casket team (body bearers / pall bearers)
A firing party
A bugler
A military band
An escort platoon (size varies according to the rank of the deceased)

Additionally, those eligible for full military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery may use the caisson (UNAVAILABLE until June 2024), if available. Officers in the rank of colonel and above in the Army and the Marine Corps may be provided a caparisoned (riderless) horse, if available. General/flag officers may receive a cannon salute (17 guns for a four-star general, 15 for a three-star, 13 for a two-star, 11 for a one-star), if available.