Monroe Review

Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Trail of Remembrance Memorial

The River Raisin National Battlefield Park announces the annual POW/MIA Trail of Remembrance Memorial display will take place from Saturday, September 11, 2022 through Friday, September 30, 2022 starting at the new Visitor Center at 333 North Dixie Highway, Monroe Michigan 48162 following along the East Heritage Corridor towards the Battlefield grounds.

We hope you will join the River Raisin National Battlefield Park Foundation, DTE Energy Foundation, First Merchants Bank, La-Z-Boy Incorporated, Kiwanis Club of Monroe, Kiwanis Aktion Club, and Battlefield Scout Troop 547 in remembering and honoring those who were prisoners of war and those who served and never returned home. After the January 22, 1813 battle at the River Raisin, 586 American soldiers were taken as prisoners, the most ever taken by a foreign power from the continental United States.  The American prisoners of War that were able to be marched were moved north from the River Raisin towards Detroit and then Fort Malden.  

Origins of POW/MIA Recognition Day

In 1979, Congress and President Carter passed resolutions making the third Friday of September the POW/MIA Recognition Day is commemorated on the third Friday of every September, a date that’s 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 POW/MIA Recognition Day is to ensure that Americans remembers to stand behind those who serve and make sure we do everything we can to account for those who have never returned. 

For best viewing of the field of flags take time to walk or bicycle ride from the new Visitor Center to the Battlefield grounds.

Original source can be found here.