POW/MIA Recognition Day

San Rafael, CA nonprofit Veterans Housing & Services is asking Californians to set a place at their tables to mark national POW/MIA Recognition Day, which takes place this Friday, Sept. 16. A Congressional Resolution passed in 1979 set the third Friday of September as POW/MIA Recognition Day to remember the nation’s soldiers who were prisoners of war (POWs) and those listed as missing in action (MIAs). Since WWII, the US Dept. of Defense puts the total number of MIAs at 87,000 and POWs at 142,000 – 17,000 of whom died while interned. The traditional POW/MIA Day table setting includes a small round table covered with a white tablecloth, dishes and silverware, black napkin, single red rose, yellow candle and yellow ribbon, salt and slices of lemon on a bread plate, a wine glass turned upside down and empty chair reminding us that these soldiers cannot be with us today. A small American flag and a POW/MIA Flag – available on the internet – complete the honorary seat at the table.