Secretary of Defense Mattis Hosts DoD 2018 National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony
Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis will host the Department of Defense's 2018 National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at 5 p.m. EDT at the Pentagon's River Terrace Parade Field.
The program will include remarks by Secretary Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., followed by a pass-in-review, joint service anthem medley, and flyover.
All journalists desiring to cover the ceremony must obtain a wristband from security screening. Journalists without a Pentagon facility access card must go through security screening at the base of the River Entrance Pedestrian Bridge, and will be escorted to the ceremony from there. Security screening will begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification. Journalists with a Pentagon facility access card, and whom have entered the building prior to 3 p.m. EDT, may go through security screening at the River Entrance to obtain their wristband. All journalists wishing to cover the POW/MIA ceremony, including those with a Pentagon facility access card, must be in place no later than 4:45 p.m. EDT. Once security screening has been initiated at the base of the bridge, all journalists entering the building via the bridge for any reason, including those with a Pentagon facility access card not covering the POW/MIA ceremony, must undergo security screening.
Please call 703-697-5131 with any questions. The ceremony will also be streamed on www.defense.gov/live