Nation honors former prisoners of war on April 9
Americans observe National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day on April 9 to honor service members who endured captivity and to mark the anniversary of the Bataan Death March.
On April 9, 1942, U.S. and allied forces surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Army on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. In the days that followed, the Imperial Japanese Army forced thousands of captured Americans to march under brutal conditions, suffering abuse, starvation and death; more than 500 Americans died during the march, which was later classified as a war crime.
The observance was established decades later after former prisoners of war sought formal recognition. Their advocacy led to congressional action in 1988, when then-President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation designating April 9 as a day of national recognition. Since then, communities across the country have marked the day with ceremonies, memorial events and the flying of the POW/MIA flag.
The day also highlights the enduring physical and emotional toll captivity can take on service members. A 2025 presidential proclamation called on Americans to honor former prisoners of war, saying many endured captivity “as a consequence of defending American freedom,” and urged officials and civic organizations to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day remains a somber military observance honoring resilience and sacrifice.
