Today, the New Hanover County Veteran Services Department is celebrating National POW/MIA Recognition Day!

POW/MIA Recognition Day is commemorated on the third Friday of every September, a date that is not associated with any particular war. In 1979, Congress and the president passed resolutions making it official, after the families of the more than 2,500 Vietnam War POW/MIAs pushed for full accountability.

The point of POW/MIA Recognition Day is to ensure that Americans remember to stand behind those who serve and to make sure we do everything we can to account for those who have never returned.

According to a Congressional Research Service report on POWs:
- 130,201 World War II service members were imprisoned; 14,072 them died
- 7,140 Korean War service members were imprisoned; 2,701 of them died
- 725 Vietnam War service members were imprisoned; 64 of them died
- 37 service members were imprisoned during conflicts since 1991, including both Gulf wars; none are still in captivity

According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 83,114 Americans who fought in those wars are still missing, including:
- 73,515 from World War II (an approximate number due to limited or conflicting data)
- 7,841 from the Korean War
- 1,626 from Vietnam
- 126 from the Cold War
- 6 from conflicts since 1991

The next meeting of the #NHCgov Board of Commissioners is Monday, September 20 at 9 am in the Historic Downtown Courthouse. The meeting is open to the public (masks required), available via livestream at NHCtv.com, YouTube (NewHanoverCo) or on Spectrum channel 13.

This week, New Hanover County Fire Rescue dedicated a new fire truck at the Federal Point Fire Station. Fire Engine 19 is equipped with new safety features, carries 1,000 gallons of water, and pumps 1,500 gallons of water per minute. Read more and watch the virtual ceremony: https://bit.ly/3ErLNEl

So far in September, 45 New Hanover County residents have died from COVID-19. 37 of those deaths were reported to Public Health in the past week. Read more: https://bit.ly/3hBmHJl

“These deaths are real, they are incredibly sad, and they are being felt by the healthcare workers and the families and friends of the individuals who have died."
- Carla Turner, Assistant Health Director

Protect yourself.
Find a vaccine clinic near you: bit.ly/NHC-Vaccine