Veterans gather to remember those that yet to return home
Holly Tonini
Members of the Molinaro Band play a song to honor those members of the Armed Forces who were missing in action and/or prisoners of war in a ceremony held at the Connellsville Readiness Center.
Clarence Fisher, a member of the Rolling Thunder Riders places a candle on the missing man table during a ceremony held at the Connellsville Readiness Center on Saturday.
Gerald Browell, a member of the Veterans Commission, was Master of Ceremonies during an event at the Connellsville Readiness Center to honor fallen members of the Armed Forces on Saturday.
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. — Fayette County soldiers that have laid down their life in service of their country and those that have yet to return home were remembered Saturday during a solemn ceremony at the National Guard Readiness Center.
The Prisoner of War/Missing In Action (POW/MIA) service was conducted by the Connellsville Veterans Commission, American Legion Riders and Rolling Thunder.
As the names of those killed in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, along with the 94 soldiers and one civilian from Pennsylvania that have yet to return home from the Vietnam battlefields, were called, members of the veteran organizations stood and saluted their comrades.
“Unaccounted for, sir,” said each veteran.
The missing soldiers were also remembered as the organizations took part in the Missing Man Table and Honors Ceremony.
“It is a place of dignity and honor,” said Jim Smith, American Legion Post 301 service officer and U.S. Marine veteran as a plate, rose, slice of lemon, salt, U.S. flag, candle and an inverted glass were added to the small table.
“They have paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom.”
Gerald Browell, Vietnam veteran, served as master of ceremonies and said that there is no closure for the families of missing soldiers and efforts must be untaken to return them to their loved ones.
“In 2011, the remains of 29 servicemen have been recovered and identified from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War,” he said, noting that 73,000 World War II servicemen have yet to be accounted for by the U.S.
One of the returnees, said Browell, was U.S. Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Regis Dietz of Pittsburgh.
A World War II crew of 12 aboard the B-24D Liberator, including Dietz, had taken off on a mission in the South Pacific on Oct. 27, 1943. However, they never returned.
A 1949 investigation into their whereabouts determined they were unrecoverable due to the location of the crash site, said Browell.
In 2003, information was received by the U.S. military of the crash location and after two unsuccessful tries, the missing soldiers were found.
They were recently interred in the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
“Regis Dietz and his crewmates can now rest in peace,” said Browell. “This is one example of why we are here today. We must never forget.”
Also taking part in the ceremony were the Rev. Shawn Goodwin, Connellsville Community Ministries executive director; the Molinaro Band and Tom McFadden, Connellsville Veterans Commission secretary.
Others in attendance included John “Wally” Schroyer and Ben Lincoln, both World War II prisoners of war; Greg Ritch, U.S. Army Reserve (retired) and Connellsville City Councilman and state Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar. Also, Russ Miller, Fayette County American Legion commander.