The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's 2026 POW/MIA Recognition Day Poster. President Jimmy Carter established National POW/MIA Recognition Day in 1979. The day is observed annually on the 3rd Friday of September. The day was established to honor veterans who were held as POW’s and those who remain missing in action. Each year the President issues a Presidential Proclamation to commemorate the day and every year a poster is designed to recognize the debt owed to those who sacrificed their freedom so that the nation might enjoy peace and liberty. This year's poster features several elements. The Gold Star embodies the core of the DPAA mission and the commitment the agency makes to the families. Being front and center, it symbolizes the sacrifice of the families who have lost a loved one in service to the nation. It fuels the agency's dedication to providing them with answers. The POW/MIA Flag's placement over the Gold Star is a representation of how each family carries the memory and upholds the legacy of the Nation's missing service members. The Warrior Ethos is the driving force behind DPAA’s work. It is a constant reminder of the agency's promise to the Nation and guides the actions and mindset of DPAA. (U.S. Army graphic by Sgt. Ashleigh Maxwell)