The third Friday of September of each year shall be known and is designated as “POW/MIA Recognition Day”, and is set apart as a day acknowledging with special gratitude and profound respect those who paid for our freedom with their own freedom, and as a day for remembering with deep sorrow those whose fate has never been resolved. The people of the state of Missouri, and the educational, commercial, political, civic, religious and fraternal organizations of the state of Missouri are requested to devote some part of the day to solemn contemplation on the plight of those Americans who were held, and those who may still be held, as prisoners of war throughout our history and who endured the indignities and brutality of captivity without surrendering their devotion to duty, honor and country, and to remembering with compassion and concern the families who persevere in their quest to know the fate of their missing loved ones. The state of Missouri reaffirms its commitment to continue efforts to obtain the fullest possible accounting for every American, especially every Missourian, missing in service to our country, and pledge to their families to search unceasingly for information about those who have died and those whose remains have not been recovered.