POW/MIA Patch: You Are Not Forgotten

The POW/MIA patch carries one of the most solemn and important messages in American military culture: "You Are Not Forgotten." It's a promise made to every American service member who was captured or went missing in combat — and a reminder that the obligation to account for them never expires. Here's the story behind the symbol.

The POW/MIA Flag: Origin and Design

The POW/MIA flag was designed by Newby Award winner Mary Holt in 1971 for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, an organization founded by families of Vietnam War POWs and MIAs. The flag features a white silhouette of a bowed prisoner's head against a black field, a guard tower, and barbed wire, with the words "POW/MIA" above and "You Are Not Forgotten" below.

The black field represents the darkness of captivity and the unknown fate of the missing. The bowed head represents the prisoner. The design is deliberately stark and somber — a visual reminder of the human cost of war that doesn't let the viewer look away.

The Scale of the Issue

As of 2024, the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) lists more than 81,500 Americans as unaccounted for from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and the Gulf War. The largest number — approximately 72,000 — are from World War II, many lost at sea or in remote locations where recovery is extremely difficult.

The DPAA conducts ongoing recovery missions worldwide, using forensic science, historical research, and international cooperation to identify and return the remains of fallen Americans. Every identification is a promise kept.

The POW/MIA Flag in Law and Culture

The POW/MIA flag holds a unique legal status: it is the only flag other than the American flag authorized to fly over the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, and other federal buildings. This status was established by Congress in 1998, reflecting the national commitment to accounting for all missing service members.

Why It's Worn

For veterans, active military, and their families, the POW/MIA patch is a sacred obligation — a visible reminder that the promise "You Are Not Forgotten" is not just words. It's worn in honor of those who never came home and in support of the ongoing effort to bring them back.

Shop the POW/MIA Patch

Hook-and-loop backed. You are not forgotten.

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