Recent Press Releases

Thune Joins Colleagues in Reintroducing POW/MIA Flag

“I display this flag outside of my office each day, and I hope the government will soon expand its recognition of these veterans and their families, a symbol of our commitment to bring them home.”

March 8, 2019

WASHINGTON — 

U.S. Sen. John Thune this week joined Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) in reintroducing the National Prisoners of War (POW)/Missing in Action (MIA) Flag Act, which would require the POW/MIA flag to be displayed whenever the American flag is displayed on prominent federal properties, including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, every national cemetery, the buildings containing the official offices of the secretaries of state, defense, and veterans affairs, the office of the director of the selective service system, each major military installation (as designated by the secretary of defense), each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, and each U.S. Postal Service post office. Thune introduced this bill to honor the more than 82,000 Americans who are listed as POW, MIA, or otherwise unaccounted for from our nation’s past wars and conflicts.

“May we never forgot the cost of freedom or the sacrifice of those who are yet to return home,” said Thune. “I display this flag outside of my office each day, and I hope the government will soon expand its recognition of these veterans and their families, a symbol of our commitment to bring them home.”

Under current law, the POW/MIA Flag is required to be displayed by the federal government on certain prominent federal properties on only six days per year: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Veterans Day. The National POW/MIA Flag Act will ensure that the POW/MIA flag is displayed whenever the U.S. flag is displayed, effectively ensuring that both flags are displayed concurrently and every day at federal locations already designated under existing law.