[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 186 (Thursday, September 24, 2020)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 60339-60340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21313]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 85 , No. 186 / Thursday, September 24, 2020 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 60339]]


                Proclamation 10078 of September 17, 2020

                
National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2020

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Throughout our Nation's history, America's sons and 
                daughters have heroically safeguarded our precious 
                freedoms and defended the cause of liberty both at home 
                and abroad. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we 
                remember the more than 500,000 prisoners of war who 
                have endured incredible suffering and brutality under 
                conditions of extraordinary privation, and the tens of 
                thousands of our patriots who are still missing in 
                action. Although our Nation will never be able to fully 
                repay our debt to those who have given so much on our 
                behalf, we commemorate their bravery and recommit to 
                working for their long-suffering families who deserve 
                answers and solace for their missing loved ones.

                Today, I join a grateful Nation in honoring those POWs 
                who faithfully served through extreme hardship and 
                unimaginable physical and emotional trauma. Their lives 
                and resilience reflect the best of the American Spirit, 
                and their immeasurable sacrifices have ensured the 
                blessings of freedom for future generations. On this 
                day, we also reaffirm our unceasing global efforts to 
                obtain the fullest possible accounting of our MIA 
                personnel. The search, recovery, and repatriation of 
                MIA remains help bring closure to families bearing the 
                burden of the unresolved fate of their loved ones. That 
                is why in 2018, I worked to secure the historic 
                repatriation of remains from North Korea, and why we 
                are continually working to bring more home from around 
                the world. My Administration will never waver in 
                fulfilling our country's obligation to leave no service 
                member behind.

                This year, as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of 
                the end of World War II and reflect upon both the 70th 
                anniversary of the start of the Korean War and the 45th 
                anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, we pause to 
                recognize the men and women who were held as POWs or 
                deemed MIA in these conflicts against repressive 
                ideologies. These service members and civilians, many 
                from the Greatest Generation, deserve a special place 
                of honor in the hearts of all Americans because of 
                their selfless devotion, unflinching courage, and 
                unsurpassed dedication to our cherished American 
                values.

                On September 18, 2020, our Nation's citizens will look 
                to the iconic black and white flag as a powerful 
                reminder of the service of America's POWs and service 
                members who have gone MIA. This flag, especially when 
                flying high above our military installations abroad, 
                conveys the powerful message of American devotion to 
                the cause of human liberty and our commitment to never 
                forget the brave Americans lost defending that liberty. 
                On this National POW/MIA Recognition Day, our Nation 
                takes a special moment to pay tribute to those who 
                endured the horrors of enemy captivity and those lost 
                in service to our country. Our Nation will continue to 
                be resolute in our relentless pursuit of those remains 
                of service members who have yet to return home from war 
                and our steadfast promise to their families that their 
                loved ones will never be forgotten.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim September 18, 2020,

[[Page 60340]]

                as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Together with the 
                people of the United States, I salute all American POWs 
                who, in the presence of great dangers and 
                uncertainties, valiantly honored their duty to this 
                great country. Let this day also serve as a reminder 
                for our Nation to strengthen our resolve to account for 
                those who are still missing and provide their families 
                long-sought answers. I call upon Federal, State, and 
                local government officials and private organizations to 
                observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and 
                activities.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                fifth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2020-21313
Filed 9-23-20; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F0-P