POW/MIA Challenge Coins

Challenge coins made to represent an organization or military unit often bear unique symbols, iconography, insignias or mottos that are significant to their organization. For example, a military unit in the U.S. army might incorporate the official seal of the army as a design element or the words “Army Strong.” Challenge coins made to honor the National League of POW/MIA Families often incorporate the organization’s POW/MIA Flag, a symbol officially recognized by the U.S. Congress as a symbol of missing or captured soldiers and the only flag ever raised over the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

The flag’s design is black and white, bearing the emblem of the League. The emblem is a white disc-shape bearing with the shadow of a servicemember over the image of a guarded watchtower. Above the disk is the white letters POW and MIA framing a white 5-pointed star; below the disk is a black and white wreath above the white motto “You are not forgotten.”

According to official U.S. law, the flag is “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.” The government officially raises it six days a year to honor missing soldiers, and the league itself uses the flag’s design as part of its official symbol.  

As a challenge coin, the design of the POW/MIA Flag continues to honor the goals of the organization and rather than represent membership in the organization, challenge coins depicting the flag’s symbol demonstrates solidarity in finding missing soldiers. Carrying such a challenge coin indicates support for the national movement to restore missing servicemembers to their homeland and a means of demonstrating dedication to bringing the cause.