President Trump proclaimed Thursday as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day to honor U.S. soldiers who have been captured in conflicts abroad.

“In the course of fighting for our freedom and security, many of these heroes have been captured and often subjected to shocking conditions and unimaginable torture,” the White House said in a statement on Wednesday. “On National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, we honor the more than 500,000 American warriors captured while protecting our way of life. We pay tribute to these patriots for their unwavering and unrelenting spirit.”