The City of Soldotna will join communities across the nation in honoring American service members who were prisoners of war or remain missing in action.

On Sept. 10, 2025, Mayor Paul Whitney issued a proclamation designating Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day in the city.

The observance, held annually on the third Friday of September, pays tribute to the more than 80,000 American service members who remain unaccounted for from past conflicts, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Of that number, an estimated 38,000 are considered recoverable.

The proclamation acknowledges the suffering endured by those who were held in captivity and the anguish borne by families still awaiting answers. It emphasizes the nation’s responsibility to ensure these sacrifices

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