Statement

This National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, we honor every American service member who returned home after enduring the horrors of captivity by enemy forces during times of war. My Administration will always uphold the promise to leave no warrior behind and to bring home the missing souls from every war or conflict.

No one is more deserving of our Nation’s appreciation than the former prisoners of war (POWs) who put their lives on the line for freedom’s cause and survived brutality and violence beyond all comprehension for the sake of our posterity. These brave warriors endured unthinkable atrocities, torture, mental and physical abuse, separation from family, and horrendous living conditions. Their selflessness and strength deserve our everlasting respect, and as Commander in Chief, I will never stop fighting for these exceptional heroes and all of our incredible veterans.

This year, as we celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, we are reminded that this milestone is possible only because brave men and women from every generation answered the call of liberty when it was in peril. As our American Flag flies high over a Nation made free by their sacrifice, the POW/MIA flag flies at federal sites just below it—a requirement I was proud to sign into law during my first term—to serve as a constant reminder of those still missing in action and our duty to account for them and bring them home.

As we pause today to celebrate the POWs who returned home, we also acknowledge their families who lived for months and years in a prison of uncertainty and fear while awaiting news of their loved ones. This unimaginable sacrifice deserves our utmost gratitude, admiration, and awe.

Our returned POWs represent the best of America. They understand what it means to serve a cause greater than self, and their names and stories should never be forgotten by a people forever in their debt. Today and every day, we honor their extraordinary sacrifices, courage, patriotism, and resilience.