For families, veterans, service members, and communities across the country, the words POW and MIA carry deep meaning. They represent sacrifice, uncertainty, service, and the enduring responsibility to remember those who have not returned home.
The National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum, led by Cecil Field POW/MIA Memorial, Inc., is working to establish a national place of remembrance in Jacksonville, Florida. Its purpose is to honor all former Prisoners of War, recognize over 140,000 U.S. service members, and commemorate the over 80,000 U.S. service members still Missing in Action and unaccounted for from World War II to the present.
In a featured conversation on Buzz on Veterans, Executive Director Edmund (Ed) Turner highlights a mission rooted in remembrance, education, and national gratitude.
A First-of-Its-Kind National Memorial
At present, there is no national memorial dedicated to all unaccounted-for U.S. service members Missing in Action. The National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum is being developed to fill that important gap.
The vision is to create both a historic landmark and a national destination where visitors from across the country can reflect, learn, and honor those who served. For veterans and military families, such a place offers recognition. For the broader public, it provides an opportunity to better understand the ongoing meaning of POW/MIA remembrance.
Why Jacksonville Matters
One key question about the project is simple: why Jacksonville?
The organization views Jacksonville as the rightful location for the National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum. As the initiative continues to build on the plan laid out by the project’s originators, Jacksonville is positioned as a meaningful national destination for remembrance and education.
The connection to Cecil Field POW/MIA Memorial, Inc. also anchors the project in a community where honoring military service remains central to the mission.
Leadership Rooted in Service
Edmund (Ed) Turner serves as Executive Director of the National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum. A veteran, Turner’s career reflects a continued commitment to service beyond military life.
After retiring from the Navy, he worked with a government contracting company managing international military training programs. That role required briefing military leadership on the planning and status of multiple programs. While those responsibilities were familiar from his time in uniform, he quickly learned that, as a civilian, credibility had to be earned anew.
Following what he describes as his second retirement, Turner chose to support the National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum in its foundational phase. For him, the work is another way to give back.
Defining Success Through Visible Progress
For a mission of this size and significance, success is not defined by a single milestone. Turner describes success as visible progress: continuing to build on the plan established by the project’s originators.
That perspective matters. National memorials and museums are built through long-term commitment, community support, careful planning, and a clear sense of purpose. Each step forward helps preserve the memory of those who endured captivity, those who remain unaccounted for, and the families who continue to carry their stories.
Why POW/MIA Remembrance Still Matters
POW/MIA remembrance is not only about history. It is about an ongoing national promise.
It honors sacrifice
Former Prisoners of War and Missing in Action service members represent some of the most profound sacrifices made in service to the United States. A dedicated memorial helps ensure their stories are not forgotten.
It supports education
A museum component creates an opportunity for visitors to learn about the experiences of POWs, the reality of missing service members, and the lasting impact on families and communities.
It creates a place for reflection
Memorial spaces give individuals and families a dedicated place to pause, remember, and connect with a larger national story.
It strengthens community connection
Projects like the National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum invite veterans, civilians, families, and organizations to come together around a shared commitment to remembrance.
Practical Ways to Support the Mission
For those who want to help preserve the legacy of POWs and unaccounted-for service members, awareness is a meaningful first step. Learning about the mission, sharing it with others, and staying connected to the project can help expand public understanding of why a national POW/MIA memorial matters.
Individuals can also take time to learn the meaning behind POW/MIA recognition, speak with veterans and military families in their communities, and support organizations committed to honoring military service and remembrance.
Conclusion: A National Destination for Remembrance, Education, and Inspiration
The National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum is more than a proposed landmark. It represents a promise to remember former Prisoners of War, honor the service of over 140,000 U.S. service members, and commemorate the over 80,000 still Missing in Action and unaccounted for from World War II to the present.
Through continued visible progress and dedicated leadership, the project aims to become a place of remembrance, education, and inspiration for visitors from across the country.
To learn more about the National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum and its mission in Jacksonville, visit https://powmiamemorial.org.
