Senator Ashley Moody will join Representative Aaron Bean in attempting to pass the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act in support of the project.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The POW/MIA Memorial and Museum, currently being constructed at the Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, would be a national landmark under new legislation set to be introduced in the U.S. Senate.
Senator Ashley Moody visited the museum on National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, joined by U.S. Representative Aaron Bean, to make the announcement. Together, they hope to give the museum exclusive national recognition at the federal level.
In 2025, Bean first introduced the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act (H. R. 3057) in the House.
“Throughout our nation’s history, more than 223,000 American service members have been listed as POW/MIA. We owe it to those service members and their families to ensure that our nation never forgets. This memorial will give Americans a unique opportunity to honor the immense sacrifice made by our POWs and serve as a powerful reminder of the service members whose fates are still unknown. I want to thank Senator Moody for joining me in this critical effort and spearheading this legislation in the Senate,” U.S. Representative Aaron Bean said Thursday.
"Prisoners of wars and soldiers missing in action deserve our prayers, support and recognition of their immense sacrifice. There is no better place to honor their service than Florida, because of our long tradition of supporting veterans," Moody said.
The memorial is being built on 26-acres at the grounds of one of the Navy's most historic master jet bases, Naval Air Station Cecil Field. It remained from the 1940s through the 90s. The project builds upon and honors a small existing memorial from 1973 that recognizes missing and captured Jacksonville-area aviators from the Vietnam War and through the first Gulf War.
Construction is currently in Phase 1, focused on the completion of Cecil Field Heritage Plaza and Memorial. It aims to honor all who died while stationed at NAS Cecil Field, and will display four aircraft and a replica runway. The former base chapel has also been renovated and reopened for visitors. According to the memorial's website, construction on Phase 2 is expected to begin in the spring or summer of 2026.
The memorial is currently open for tours once a month as the project progresses, and has begun hosting field trips for young people to learn about our nation's servicemembers.
First Coast News
Author: Kiley Miller - Published: 7:34 PM EDT April 9, 2026 - Updated: 8:37 PM EDT April 9, 2026
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Standing in honor and remembrance — Senator Ashley Moody and Representative Aaron Bean join Veterans at the National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum in Jacksonville, Fla., advancing efforts to ensure the stories and sacrifices of our nation’s POWs and MIA service members are never forgotten.
