In 1979, former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the
United States, established the National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
Since its inception, the third Friday in September has served as a
day to honor our nation’s military veterans who were once held as prisoners of war and those who remain listed as missing in action.
James Earl Carter Jr.
An optimistic and upbeat President John F. Kennedy
suggested the Soviet Union and the United States
cooperate on a mission to mount an expedition to
the moon. The proposal caught both the Soviets
and many Americans off guard.
In 1961, shortly after his election as president, John
F. Kennedy announced that he was determined to
win the “space race” with the Soviets.
Kennedy toured Cape Canaveral, Fla. with rocket scientist Werner von Braun (left) on Nov. 16, 1963.
