Saturday, May 17, is Armed Forces Day, one of six days each year USPS facilities fly the POW-MIA flag.
Postal facilities that are open on Saturday must display the flag, which honors the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action. The POW-MIA flag must fly below the U.S. flag.
On Aug. 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense.
Facilities supervisors should regularly inspect their U.S. and POW-MIA flags to make sure they’re serviceable and displayed with respect. When a flag is tattered, faded or otherwise no longer a fitting emblem for display, it must be immediately replaced.
Postmasters and station managers can order U.S. and POW-MIA flags through eBuy2.