In 1971, during the Vietnam War, Mary Hoff, member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and wife of missing in action (MIA) Lt. Commander Michael Hoff U.S.N., proposed the creation of a symbol for American prisoners of war (POW) and those who are MIA. The POW/MIA flag was created for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and is officially recognized by the U.S. Congress in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, "as the symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation." National League of Families national coordinator Evelyn Grubb, wife of a POW, oversaw its development and also campaigned to gain its widespread acceptance and use by the U.S. federal government, local governments, and civilian organizations across the United States.

The following protocol is derived from the National League of Families of American Prisoners & Missing in Southeast Asia.  For more information, click the link provided to the official website.  https://www.pow-miafamilies.org/

1. DISPLAYING THE POW/MIA FLAG AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG WITH OTHER FLAGS ON THE SAME FLAGSTAFF

When flying the POW/MIA flag on the same flagstaff as the United States flag, the POW/MIA flag should fly immediately below the United States flag. If the United States flag and a state flag and/or other flag or pennant will be flown along with the POW/MIA flag on the same flagstaff, the order from top to bottom should be:

1. TOP:  the United States Flag 

2. MIDDLE: the POW/MIA Flag 

3. BOTTOM: the State Flag or other flags, unless otherwise stipulated by your state flag code.

• Texas State Flag Code States the following:

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 734 (H.B. 1549), Sec. 113, eff. September 1, 2015.

Sec. 2165.006.  DISPLAY OF POW/MIA FLAG.  (a)  In this section, "POW/MIA flag" means the National League of Families POW/MIA flag identified by 36 U.S.C. Section 902.

(b)  The POW/MIA flag shall be displayed at each state office building on:

(1)  the third Saturday in May, "Armed Forces Day";

(2)  the last Monday in May, "Memorial Day";

(3)  the 14th day of June, "Flag Day";

(4)  the fourth day of July, "Independence Day";

(5)  the 11th day of November, "Veterans Day";  and

(6)  the 20th of September, "National POW/MIA Recognition Day."

2. DISPLAYING THE POW/MIA FLAG WITH THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND OTHER FLAGS ON TWO ADJACENT FLAGSTAFFS

When flags are flown from two adjacent flagstaffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. The POW/MIA flag should be flown on the flagstaff with and below the flag of the United States, which should be at the peak of the flagstaff. The state flag (or other flag) on an adjacent flagstaff may not be placed above the flag of the United States or to its right (the viewer’s left) if the flagstaffs are of equal height.  The order should be:

Flag Pole #1 (Viewer's Left): TOP: The United States Flag.  BOTTOM: POW/MIA Flag

Flag Pole #2 (Right of Flag Pole #1) TOP: State Flag. BOTTOM: Other Flags

3. DISPLAYING THE POW/MIA FLAG WITH THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND OTHER FLAGS ON THREE ADJACENT FLAGSTAFFS OF UNEQUAL HEIGHT

When flags are flown from three adjacent flagstaffs of unequal height, the United States flag should be hoisted first and lowered last. The POW/MIA flag should be flown on the flagstaff to the right (the viewer’s left) of the United States flag. State and other flags should be flown from the third flagstaff, unless otherwise stipulated by your state flag code.  The order should be:

Flag Pole #1: United State Flag

Flag Pole #2: POW/MIA Flag

Flag Pole #3: State Flag

4. DISPLAYING THE POW/MIA FLAG WITH THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND OTHER FLAGS ON ADJACENT FLAGSTAFFS OF EQUAL HEIGHT

When flags are flown from adjacent flagstaffs of equal height, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last and no other flag should be flown to its right (the viewer’s left). The POW/MIA flag should be flown on the flagstaff to the immediate left (the viewer’s right) of the United States flag and state or other flags flown farther left, unless otherwise stipulated by your state flag code.

5. MARCHING WITH THE POW/MIA FLAG

When the POW/MIA flag is carried in procession by itself, it should be carried front and center ahead of a marching unit. When carried in procession abreast with the United States flag, the POW/MIA flag should be on the marching left of the United States flag (top illustration). When a line of flags follow the United States flag, the US flag is centered on the line. The POW/MIA flag should be on the marching right of the line of flags (bottom illustration), unless otherwise stipulated by your state flag code.  The order should be when marching with flags of the armed forces.

Row 1 Left to Right (Viewer's Point of View)

1. The United States Flag

2. POW/MIA Flag

3. State Flag

Row 2 Left to Right (Viewer's Point of View)

1. United States Army

2. United States Marine Corps

3. United States Navy

4. United States Air Force

5. United States Space Force

6. United States Coast Guard

6. POW/MIA FLAG AND UNITED STATES FLAG IN CROSSED-STAFF DISPLAY

When displayed with the United States flag in crossed-staff format, the United States flag should be on the viewer’s left with its staff on top of the staff of the POW/MIA flag.

7. POW/MIA FLAG DISPLAYED ON A WALL OR BEHIND SPEAKER

When the POW/MIA flag is displayed on wall, such as behind a speaker’s platform, the flag must be displayed as shown.

8. POW/MIA FLAG DISPLAYED ON SPEAKER’S PLATFORM WITH THE UNITED STATES FLAG

When the POW/MIA flag is displayed with the United States flag on a speaker’s platform, the United States flag should be on the speaker’s right and the POW/MIA flag on the speaker’s left.  When displaying flags in ceremonial engagements while indoors of a Veteran Service Organization (i.e. The American Legion) 

From Left to Right (Viewer's Point of View)

1. The United States Flag

2. United States Department Flag (Department of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs...etc)

3. POW/MIA Flag (normally if no Honors Table is present)

4. State Flag

5. United States Army Colors

6. United States Marine Corps Colors

7. United States Navy Colors

8. United States Air Force Colors

9. United States Space Force Colors

10. United States Coast Guard Colors

Veteran Service Organizations shall be positioned according to their founding dates.

11. Veterans of Foreign Wars (1899)

12. American Legion (1919)

    1. American Legion Auxiliary

    2. Sons of the American Legion

    3. American Legion Riders

• POW/MIA Flag when Honors Table is present

9. FLYING THE UNITED STATES AND POW/MIA FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF

When flying the United States and the POW/MIA flag at half-staff, they should first be elevated to peak position, held there momentarily, and then lowered to half-staff. At the day’s end, each should be again elevated to peak position before being lowered. If the flags are on different flagstaffs, the United States flag should be raised first and lowered last.

FEDERAL LAW ON FLYING THE POW/MIA FLAG

On November 7, 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed PL 116-67, amending Title 36, Section 2 (Days on Which the POW/MIA Flag is Displayed on Certain Federal Property), and Subsection 902(c) (Days for Flag Display). For the purposes of these sections, POW/MIA flag display days are all days on which the flag of the United States is displayed. The Federal property locations where the POW/MIA flag must be displayed in a manner visible to the public are: The US Capitol; the White House; the WWII Memorial; the Korean War Veterans Memorial; the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial; each national cemetery; buildings containing the offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs; office of the Director of the Selective Service System; each major military installation as designated by the Secretary of Defense; each Veterans Affairs medical center; and each office of the US Postal Service. Most states have adopted similar laws as have local governments nationwide.

Public Law 116-67 designates the League’s POW/MIA flag “as the symbol of the Nation’s concern and commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans who, having been prisoners of war or missing in action, still remain unaccounted for; and . . Americans who in the future may become prisoners of war, missing in action, or otherwise unaccounted for as a result of hostile action.”

LEAGUE POLICY ON POW/MIA FLAG DISPLAY

For some time, there had been debate over when the POW/MIA flag should be flown, whether daily or on the specific six days noted in federal law. While not addressing the question of posting the flag at the national/federal level, League members at the 32nd Annual Meeting in June 2001, voted overwhelmingly in favor of the following resolution: “Be it RESOLVED that the National League of POW/MIA Families strongly recommends that state and municipal entities fly the POW/MIA flag daily to demonstrate continuing commitment to the goal of the fullest possible accounting of all personnel not yet returned to American soil.”

–Complete instructions for displaying and respecting the United States flag can be found in the publication The Flag Code from The American Legion, National Americanism Commission, Indianapolis, Indiana.