Vt. National Guard holds POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony

COLCHESTER, Vt. (WCAX) - The Vermont National Guard joined other military organizations across the nation on Friday in remembering prisoners of war and those missing in action.

The ceremony was held at Camp Johnson in Colchester. It started with the national anthem and ended with a wreath-laying and remembrance service.

The Guard honored three ex-prisoners of war. One of them was Clyde Cassidy, a 98-year-old World War II veteran. Cassidy was captured after crossing a river in Italy and imprisoned by the Germans for 15 months.

“We shouldn’t ever forget those things in Germany and those people. They could just push a button and kill 20 people and think nothing of it. We can’t let that go,” Cassidy said.

“Those who were POWs maybe sometimes get overshadowed, and their sacrifice was significant. We need to take the time to remember the people who made that sacrifice,” said Maj. Jasen Boyd of the Vermont National Guard.

The Guard also honored and reaffirmed that the search continues for those Vermonters still missing in action.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is held on the third Friday of September every year.

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