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POW MIA Flag Display

Every state agency, every state institution of higher education and every county, city, and town must display the national league of families POW/MIA flag along with the state and national flags upon or near its principal building on specific days.

These days are:

  • Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day on March 30

  • Former Prisoners of War Day on April 9

  • Armed Forces Day on the third Saturday in May

  • Memorial Day on the last Monday in May

  • Flag Day on June 14

  • Independence Day on July 4

  • National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day on July 27

  • National POW/MIA Recognition Day third Friday in September

  • Veterans’ Day on November 11

  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on December 7

If the designated day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the POW/MIA flag will be displayed on the preceding Friday.

Display

When a flag is flown on a single pole, the US Flag is on top followed the POW-MIA flag, then the state flag. If there are two poles, the POW-MIA flag is flown under the US flag while the state flag is on the other pole.  If there are three poles, the order of precedence is US Flag, POW-MIA flag, state flag. (Federal Register guidance)

To procure a POW/MIA flag, contact the National League of POA/MIA Families at http://www.pow-miafamilies.org/.

Of the 1,606 (6/21/2017) that are listed as missing in action or unaccounted for from the Vietnam conflict, 38 are from the state of Washington. More information on those still unaccounted is available at: http://www.dpaa.mil/

Flag Lowering

Gov. Inslee will direct the flag to be lowered to half-staff on these occasions:

  • Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15 (unless that day is also Armed Forces Day);
  • Memorial Day, flag lowered from sunrise to noon;
  • Patriot Day, September 11;
  • National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7;
  • In the event of the death of a principal federal and state government official;
  • In the event of the death of a state government employee, or a member of the public safety community, killed in the line of duty; and
  • In the event of the death of a member of the armed forces from Washington state while serving on active duty.

Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join this recognition.

Sign up to be notified by email when Gov. Inslee directs flags be lowered to half-staff. 

RCW 1.20.017

PROCEDURE FOR NATIONAL FLAG TO BE FLOWN AT HALFSTAFF IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OF A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES.