Watchfire Ceremony

Watchfire Ceremony

Date:  Friday, September 18, 2025
Time:  6:00 pm 

LOCATION: Pershing Auditorium, Indiana War Memorial, 55 E Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204

A Watchfire Ceremony will be held at the Indiana War Memorial, 55 East Michigan, Indianapolis 6:00 p.m. in Pershing Auditorium on Thursday, Sept. 18. 

Over one thousand seven hundred American flags, each one in honor of every Indiana POW/MIA will be placed strategically on the north grounds of the War Memorial prior to the Watchfire Ceremony. 

Following the placement of the flags, a candlelight will be illuminated on stage representing a “watchfire.” A “watchfire” is based on an old Roman military tradition of lighting a large bonfire at the end of a battle so that lost soldiers can find their way home.  

That tradition was resurrected by Vietnam veterans decades ago to honor and remember service members who have not yet returned home. With the flickering candle (watchfire) in the front of the stage in Pershing Auditorium, every Indiana POW/MIAs name will be announced while that service member’s picture is projected onto the back of the stage.

The Watchfire Ceremony is a solemn ritual to let every Indiana POW/MIA and their families know that they are not forgotten.

During the evening historical learning stations will be available in the museum for adults and children alike to learn about this Nation’s military history, with a special emphasis on Indiana military history. 

Docents will be available to answer questions about the Civil War, Revolutionary War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Global War on Terror. Costumed docents will be stationed throughout the museum.

The ceremony is free and open to the public.

The Indianapolis POW/MIA Council, Inc. is dedicated to preserving the memory of our Nation’s veterans. National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies are held throughout the Nation and around the world on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools, churches, national veteran and civic organizations, police, and fire departments, etc.