The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is committed to achieving the fullest possible accounting of all American prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA) service members from all wars.
VFW Core Stance and Goals
- Full Accounting:
The VFW works with agencies like the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
(DPAA) and the National League of POW/MIA Families
to support recovery missions and bring closure to families.
[1, 2]
- Global Engagement:
National officers take regular trips abroad to urge foreign governments to cooperate with archival research, site investigations, and recovery operations.
[1]
- National Recognition:
The VFW strongly supports National POW/MIA Recognition Day, observed annually on the third Friday of September, hosting ceremonies and maintaining the solemn "missing man table" tradition across local posts.
[1, 2, 3]
- Dignified Return:
The organization advocates for draping all transfer cases of recovered remains with the U.S. flag immediately upon leaving foreign soil.
Updated 9/2026
