Elizabeth, NJ: Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and the Tri-County Red Cross Chapter honors all of America's former prisoners of war and service members missing in action. While numbers alone do not tell the whole story, they can help us begin to appreciate the sacrifices we are recognizing today. Since World War I, more than 142,000 American service members have been captured and imprisoned, more than 130,000 of them during World War II. More than 17,000 died while interned as POWs. As the majority of these former POWs were held during World War II and the Korean War, they are now well into their 70s, 80s and 90s.
Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans' facilities. We will be joining the ceremony at the Union County Courthouse steps at 11:15am on 9/18/09.
To learn more about the Red Cross services available to active military personnel, veterans and their families, please visit our Armed Forces page.
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