Saturday April 9 is National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.
This is a day to honor service members who were captured by the enemy in wartime and eventually came home. April 9 was selected as the date to recognize these prisoners of war because it commemorates the surrender of 78,000 US and Filipino WWII service members who surrendered to the Japanese army at the Bataan Peninsula, Philippines in 1942 (National Museum of the United States Air Force). During the Bataan Death March, an estimated 20,000 of these service members died during the 65-mile march. The prisoners were beaten, denied food, water, and medical attention, tortured, and many were executed.
President Ronald Reagan signed a law in 1987 making April 9 the National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. This is different than National POW/MIA Recognition Day in September which remembers captured and/or missing service members who are still unaccounted for.
If you know of any POWs who returned home, this is a special day to thank them for their courage, bravery, and sacrifice for our country and freedom.
We invite you to visit our museum Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Our telephone number is 806-350-8387. Follow us on Facebook and visit our website www.TexasPanhandleWarMemorial.com.
