Patriotic Americans will often fly other flags along with the Stars and Stripes. They might fly the flags that have the colored stripes, known as the Thin Line flags. Others may fly the flag of the military branch under which they served, or they have a loved one serving. One flag, though, causes a lump to form in our throats. It’s the POW/MIA flag. Today especially, this flag should be flown since this is National POW/MIA Day.
A Presidential Proclamation from George H.W. Bush in 1989 rallied the nation to recognize and remember those individuals represented by that flag. His successor, President Bill Clinton, made it official in 1998. “Congress established National POW/MIA Recognition Day with the passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act. This day is one of the six days that Federal Law requires government facilities to fly the POW/MIA Flag.”1
According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, there are 81,900 Americans still considered MIA. Of these, 72,598 are from World War II, 7,580 from the Korean War, 126 from the Cold War, and six from conflicts since 1991.2 The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office reports that there are currently 83,204 unaccounted for U.S. personnel.3 More than 80,000 American service personnel are missing from previous conflicts and 38,000 are estimated to be recoverable.4
“1,575 Americans are now listed by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) as missing and unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War: Vietnam – 1,237; Laos – 283; Cambodia – 48; Peoples Republic of China territorial waters – 7. On June 21st, 2024, DPAA posted the accounting for USAF Sgt. David S. Price, 26, reported missing during the Vietnam War, was accounted for.”5
Vietnam lasted from 1955-1975. The last of American troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973. Here we are, 51 years later, and
over 800,000 are still living.6 The parents of those still living are most likely deceased. How many parents and loved ones died not knowing the whereabouts of their child?
It is definitely sad to have even one missing. It’s hard to imagine the grief of parents to be unable to get any real closure to their pain. However, there is One who knows exactly where that loved one is.
Psalms 139:2, 7-13 asks, “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off… (7) Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (8) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (9) If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (10) Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (12) Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (13) For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.”
God knows exactly what happened to those soldiers. He was with them every step of the way. It would be unrealistic to think that all who entered eternity were saved but for those who were, they experienced the truth of Psalms 23:4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Today, let’s remember those who sacrificed their lives for our nation. Let’s honor their loved ones who remain with the pain of the unknown. And let’s rest our hope on Jesus who can and will see each person through their greatest times of sorrow.
Times like this make the promise of Hebrews 13:5 even sweeter. “… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
1https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-powmia-recognition-day-third-friday-in-september
2https://www.history.com/news/missing-in-action-mia-vietnam-war
3https://communityliteracy.org/how-many-soldiers-are-still-mia-in-vietnam/
4https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/POW-MIA/
5https://www.pow-miafamilies.org/status-of-the-issue.html
6https://www.americanwarlibrary.com/personnel/vietvet.htm
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