CONNEAUT — An annual observance to honor military held in captivity, or missing in action, held special significance for a handful of elderly gentlemen in the audience.
Five area World War II veterans, each a prisoner of war, were special guests at the ceremony held early Friday night at Conneaut’s American Legion Cowle Post 151.
The men — Aubrey Greene of North Kingsville, Robert Goldsmith and Charles Marcy of Conneaut, Walter Wolchik of West Springfield, Pa., and William Taylor of Pierpont — were saluted by their fellow vets during the brief observance.
“These men gave a portion of their lives to preserve our freedom,” said Paul Nelson of Conneaut, Ohio POW-MIA chairman.
All five were captured during the later stages of the war and were confined primarily in German stalags. Goldsmith, Wolchik and Marcy were airmen whose planes were shot down; Greene an Army infantryman captured in Germany; and Taylor a member of the famed Darby’s Rangers, caught in Italy.
Greene spent seven months as a prisoner, Wolchik eight months, Marcy one year, Goldsmith 15 months and Taylor nearly 1 1/2 years.
Some were shuttled from camp to camp, but all said they spent the bulk of their confinement in Germany.
“You worried about bombing runs,” Taylor said. “The camps were supposed to be marked (to alert pilots to steer clear), but you never knew.”
Friday’s ceremony was highly symbolic, featuring an elevated table served by an honor guard. The table was set for six, the empty seats representing Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and civilians. A civilian cap was placed at each setting by the honor guard.
Other symbols were evident: The round table represented concern for those still missing; the white tablecloth the purity of their motives; a red rose in a vase, the life of the missing and the faith of loved ones awaiting answers; the red ribbon around the vase, the determination still to account for the missing; lemon slice on the bread plate, the bitter fate of those captured and missing; a pinch of salt, the tears of the missing and their families; and the Bible, the strength gained through faith.
At the end, people in the audience raised water glasses in salute to POWs and those missing in action. An inverted glass on the table symbolized the missing’s inability to join the toast.
Wolchik, who has attended similar ceremonies in the area, said he appreciated the gesture.
“Our ranks are thinning,” he said.
Greene said the observance serves an important purpose.
“It’s always a good idea to honor those who didn’t come back,” he said. “I feel like I’m one of the lucky ones. We should never forget them. They are precious.”
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