POW/MIA Flags

The POW/MIA Flag

Newt Heisley designed the POW MIA flag. Heisley was a veteran of the South Pacific Theater of World War II who worked as a professional art director at Annin and Company, he recently passed away on May 14th 2009. Heisley showed a personal interest for the many who served in the Viet-Nam War due to his personal experiences as a pilot. He designed the POW MIA flag in 1971 with a soldiers head silhouette and a watchtower with a guard on duty in the background to symbolize the prisoners at war. Your Are Not Forgotten was inscribed below POW MIA which stands for Prisoners Of War and Missing In Action as an inspirational message. In 1990 congress declared there were no unaccounted for Americans in the Southeast Asia Theater after 600 men were returned in 1973. Still to this day the POW MIA flag is flown all across america.

Important flag code information:

House Resolution H.R.1119 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 SEC. 1054.
DISPLAY OF POW/MIA FLAG.

includes the following provision:
PROTOCOL: If flying the flag from ONE FLAG POLE, the POW/MIA flag is flown directly below the National Colors and above any state flag.
• If flying National, POW/MIA and State flags from TWO poles, the POW/MIA flag should be flown from the same pole as the National Colors, and beneath the American Flag, with the state flag flying from the pole to the left.
• If flying flags from three poles, the National Colors occupy the place of prominence (the right), with the POW/MIA flag immediately to the left of the U.S. Flag, and the state flag to the left of the POW/MIA flag.
Ned Smith, 28 November 2003

It should be noted that the act in question only pertains to certain government facilities, such as the White House, State Department, Defense Department and U.S. Postal Service, among them. It does contradict certain policy issued by the protocol directorate at the U.S. Air Force Academy: "POW/MIA flag is displayed when appropriate and normally only with the U.S. flag (U.S. flag takes the position of honor)." Not all of these institutions fly a state flag.
Phil Nelson, 28 November 2003

Purchase POW/MIA Outdoor Flags

Decorative Stick Flags
Lightweight Polyester with a roll hem, attached to a staff with spear.

4x6" Give-Away Stick Flags

Indoor Presentation Set
Nylon Screen dye flag (double seal) with a pole sleeve & gold fringe, hardwood 2 piece flagpole, plastic spear top, gold chord & tassel, & shiny plastic base (sand ballast not included in pricing)

Click here for indoor flag set mounting instructions