A POW, or prisoner of war, is any military member who spent time in an enemy prison during wartime. Many of them were treated fairly, but some were tortured and went through horrible times. These people will be haunted by their experiences forever. Some also never returned. These soldiers were not classified as dead because no body was ever recovered. Instead, they are forever MIA, or missing in action. Their families and loved ones will never know their fate, and for some, that is actually worse than knowing that they are dead.
Many soldiers have friends who have been declared MIA. To honor them, many wear patches that feature the POW MIA flag, a special banner created in memory of those who spent time in an enemy prison or who never came home. One of the largest POW MIA patches is the embroidered Drop Wing Eagle patch. It's so large that it's probably the only patch you'll be able to fit on the back of your jacket. But it's a gorgeous one. The eagle has the U.S. flag on one wing and the POW MIA flag on the other. The banner underneath features the slogan often associated with POWs and MIA soldiers: 'All gave some. Some gave all'.
Honoring those who gave all isn't something that should be limited to a few days out of the year. It should be done every day. That's what wearing a patch like this one does. It says that you'll never forget those who gave their lives in service to their country.
