Paiz's Bill To Make A POW/MIA Day In Michigan

10 minutes ago

2 min read

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/18/2026) Rep. Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) wants the third Friday of every September designated as Prisoners of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) day in Michigan with her HB 6335.

“POW/MIA Day would give Michiganders an opportunity to honor the thousands of American service members who endured captivity as prisoners of war and remember those who remain missing,” Paiz said on today's National POW/MIA day. “As a nation and as a state, we have always held to the promise to never leave a soldier behind. We must continue to uphold that commitment by remembering those who served and supporting efforts to account for every service member who has yet to come home.”

Her press release pointed to more than 80,000 Americans who remain missing from past conflicts, according to the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Among them are more than 2,800 service members from Michigan who remain unaccounted for, including approximately 2,438 from World War II, 327 from the Korean War, 48 from the Vietnam War and five from the Cold War.

HB 6335 would make POW/MIA Day a permanent observance in the state's calendar, encouraging Michiganders to honor those who endured captivity, remember those who remain missing and stand with the families who have carried their absence across generations.

“The names of our service members who remain missing are still carried on our nation’s roll call. Giving this observance a permanent place in Michigan ensures that, year after year, our state continues to answer that roll call with enduring commitment,” Paiz added.

The U.S. Congress first recognized a national POW/MIA commemoration in 1979. The third Friday of September was later established as the annual date, so the observance would not be tied to any one conflict and could honor prisoners of war and missing service members from across generations. Since 1995, U.S. presidents of both parties have continued the tradition through annual proclamations, the press release read.