Staff Writer
The Caribou Veterans Cemetery hosted the second annual POW/MIA Day remembrance ceremony on Sept. 21 to honor soldiers who have gone missing in action or who are prisoners of war. The ceremony featured a number of speakers including representatives from Sen. Olympia Snowe, Sen. Susan Collins and Congressman Michael Michaud’s offices. Caribou Veterans Cemetery Chairman Harry Hafford stated that the goal of the event is to “pay tribute to the people who have gone missing over the years during times of war.”
Keynote Speaker Lloyd Woods, past department commander for the American Legion in the state of Maine and past national vice commander for the American Legion in the Northeast region, began his speech by stating that he is “honored and proud to be speaking on this day … to help you salute the men and women who have served and possibly paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep this country — America — free.” He went on to detail the number of solders who have been lost during the past few wars this country has been involved in.
According to Woods, a total of 88,000 military men and women didn’t return home after the past six wars the country has had troops involved in with 78,000 missing from WWII, 8,100 missing from the Korean War, 1,770 missing from Vietnam, 120 missing from the Cold War, one from the first Gulf War and four from Operation Iraq Freedom.
Sharon Campbell, regional representative for Sen. Snowe, read remarks from the senator. Snowe reminded the audience that the families who still mourn missing loved ones can be comforted by the fact that the “search still continues.” She described how the remains of Houlton native 2nd Lt. Harold Hoskin, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II, were recently identified and reunited with his family after going the airman went down 63 years ago during a test mission over the Alaskan wilderness. Airman Hoskins’ remains now rest in the Arlington National Cemetery, after being honored with full military honors during his burial.
Sen. Collins, represented by local staffer Phil Bosse, echoed Snowe’s sentiments and described what a remembrance ceremony means for the families that live with missing loved ones.
“Patriotic ceremonies and speeches will fill the day, but for some, especially for the families of those missing soldiers, today is something more. To them, today is a reminder of their personal sacrifice to this country,” Bosse read on ehalf of the senator. Citizens, according to the senator from Caribou, owe the soldiers and their families for the supreme sacrifice they have made for their country.
Finally, District Representative Rachel Smith read a statement from Congressman Michaud describing the responsibility Americans have toward all POW/MIA soldiers. U.S. Rep. Michaud, she said, will “continue to push for legislation to create a select committee in Congress on POW and MIA affairs.” Michaud’s prepared statement also pointed out the importance of continuing to look for answers, as there are a “new generation of heroes risking their lives.”
The ceremony was concluded by brief benediction by Fr. Jean Paul Labrie, and a laying of the wreaths by Woods and Hafford.
