in effect
This is a presidential proclamation (Proclamation 10917), a formal declaration by the President that designates a specific day for national recognition. Signed April 9, 2025, it officially designates April 9, 2025, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day and calls on Americans, as well as federal, state, and local officials, to observe it with ceremonies and activities.
This proclamation establishes April 9, 2025, as the named observance day for that year; it does not create a new permanent federal holiday or alter any existing law. It directs government officials and organizations at all levels to hold appropriate ceremonies, but imposes no legal mandates or funding obligations. The document also reaffirms existing administration policy commitments — including a stated goal of eliminating veteran homelessness, which it notes currently affects more than 30,000 veterans — though these are expressions of intent rather than new binding directives. No regulatory changes, appropriations, or enforcement mechanisms are created by this proclamation.
Former American prisoners of war and their families are the primary honorees, with the proclamation calling on the public to recognize their service and sacrifice. Federal, state, and local government agencies are called upon to organize observances, though compliance is customary rather than legally compelled.