The POW/MIA flag honors Americans captured or still missing in military service. Federal law requires it at designated sites every day the American flag flies. Here is how to display the POW/MIA flag correctly, along with a short look at where it came from.
The Origin of the POW/MIA Flag
The POW/MIA flag traces back to 1970, when Mary Hoff began advocating for a national symbol after her husband, Navy pilot Lt. Cmdr. Michael Hoff, went missing over Laos during the Vietnam War. Her efforts led to the flag's design in 1971 by graphic designer Newt Heisley for Annin & Co. For the full story behind the flag, including how Heisley arrived at its design, see the history of the POW/MIA flag.
The finished flag displays a white silhouette of a bowed head before a guard tower and barbed wire, along with the words "POW/MIA" and "You Are Not Forgotten," on a black background.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Congress authorized National POW/MIA Recognition Day in 1979. Since 1986, presidential proclamations have set it on the third Friday of every September. The day honors former prisoners of war, those still listed as missing, and the families who have lived with that uncertainty for decades. Military installations, veterans' halls, and state capitols across the country hold ceremonies each year.
The flag has carried national weight for just as long. In 1982, it became the only flag besides the American flag ever flown over the White House, a distinction it still holds. Congress formally recognized the flag in 1990 through Public Law 101-355.
How to Display the POW/MIA Flag
Getting the display right matters. At designated federal sites, federal law sets when the POW/MIA flag must fly. At homes and businesses, display is voluntary, but the same care should guide its placement and condition.
On a Single Flagpole
When the POW/MIA flag shares a pole with the American flag, fly it directly beneath the American flag. Never place it above the American flag or make it larger.
On Multiple Flagpoles
The U.S. flag holds the highest position of honor, at the center of a group or farthest left when a line faces the viewer. Place the POW/MIA flag immediately to its right in order of precedence, before any state flag.
When Federal Law Requires It
Federal display requirements for the POW/MIA flag date back to the 1998 Defense Authorization Act, which required the flag at military installations, national cemeteries, VA medical centers, and other federal buildings on a handful of set dates each year, including Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. The National POW/MIA Flag Act of 2019 expanded that requirement significantly: designated major federal sites, including the White House, the U.S. Capitol, national cemeteries, military installations, and the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam Veterans memorials, must now fly the flag on every day the American flag flies. For additional display guidance, see the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs POW/MIA guide.
For Homes and Businesses
Private citizens and businesses may choose whether to fly the flag. Plenty of veterans' organizations, fire departments, police stations, and homeowners fly it year-round. If you're one of them, inspect it the same way you would an American flag, and replace it once it starts to fade or fray.
Flags USA carries POW/MIA flags built for daily outdoor use and sized to pair correctly beneath an American flag on any pole. Shop the POW/MIA flag for outdoor use, or browse the full collection to find the right size for your home, business, or memorial display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I read the full history of the POW/MIA flag?
See the history of the POW/MIA flag for the full story of its creation, including how it came to be designed and by whom.
Is it mandatory for homes and businesses to fly the POW/MIA flag?
No. Federal law requires the flag at designated federal sites, but display at homes and businesses is voluntary.
Where does the POW/MIA flag go relative to the American flag?
On a shared pole, it flies directly beneath the American flag. On separate poles, it goes immediately to the right of the American flag, ahead of any state flag.
Sources
- National POW/MIA Flag Act of 2019
- 1998 Defense Authorization Act
- Public Law 101-355 (1990)
-
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, POW/MIA guide