Florida Recognizes September 18 as POW/MIA Recognition Day
September 18, 2026
Florida is joining the nation in honoring America’s prisoners of war, those still missing in action, and the families who continue to wait for answers.
Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a proclamation recognizing September 18, 2026, as POW/MIA Recognition Day in Florida, calling on Floridians to observe the day with reverence. The State of Florida’s official website identifies DeSantis as Florida’s 46th governor.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day was established in 1979 and is observed annually on the third Friday of September. The proclamation reaffirms Florida’s commitment to those who served our nation as prisoners of war and to the service members who remain missing and unaccounted for.
It also recognizes the families who have carried the burden of uncertainty and loss, while emphasizing the continuing responsibility to seek the fullest possible accounting of those who have not returned home.
Throughout Florida, the POW/MIA flag serves as a daily reminder of that commitment. According to the proclamation, it is flown over the Florida Capitol, at interstate rest areas, Florida State Veterans’ Homes and state parks. The proclamation also notes Florida’s POW/MIA memorials, including the seven-foot replica of a POW/MIA bracelet at the Florida Veterans Memorial in Tallahassee and the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum in Jacksonville.
For members of The American Legion Department of Florida, POW/MIA Recognition Day is an opportunity to pause, remember and reaffirm a promise that extends far beyond a single day.
We honor those who endured captivity. We remember those who have yet to return. We stand beside their families.
Until they all come home — we will never forget.
