Vietnam vets honored
A moment of silence is held Saturday at the “Laying of the Roses” ceremony held at the American Legion Post 131 in Leetonia to honor the fallen servicemen from Columbiana County who were killed in action or remain missing in action in the Vietnam War. Each service member’s name was read and a bell rang in honor of their sacrifice before a single rose was placed at a memorial inside the legion hall to commemorate that serviceman’s ultimate sacrifice. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)
A member of the DAV (Disabled Veterans of America) Chapter 2 in Youngstown gives a salute during the “Laying of the Roses” ceremony held Saturday at the American Legion Post 131 in Leetonia to honor the fallen servicemen from Columbiana County who were killed in action or remain missing in action in the Vietnam War. Each service member’s name was read and a bell rang in honor of their sacrifice before a single rose was placed at a memorial inside the legion hall to commemorate that serviceman’s ultimate sacrifice. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)
Kevin Lowry (left) and Dan Stellmar read the names of area servicemen who were killed in action or remain missing in action during the Vietnam War during the “Laying of the Roses” ceremony held Saturday at the American Legion Post 131 in Leetonia. Each service member’s name was read and a bell rang in honor of their sacrifice before a single rose was placed at a memorial inside the legion hall to commemorate that serviceman’s ultimate sacrifice. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)
Bob Pergola of AMVETS Post 45 speaks at during the “Laying of the Roses” ceremony held Saturday at the American Legion Post 131 in Leetonia to honor the fallen servicemen from Columbiana County who were killed in action or remain missing in action in the Vietnam War. Each service member’s name was read and a bell rang in honor of their sacrifice before a single rose was placed at a memorial inside the legion hall to commemorate that serviceman’s ultimate sacrifice. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)
A moment of silence is held Saturday at the “Laying of the Roses” ceremony held at the American Legion Post 131 in Leetonia to honor the fallen servicemen from Columbiana County who were killed in action or remain missing in action in the Vietnam War. Each service member’s name was read and a bell rang in honor of their sacrifice before a single rose was placed at a memorial inside the legion hall to commemorate that serviceman’s ultimate sacrifice. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)
A member of the DAV (Disabled Veterans of America) Chapter 2 in Youngstown gives a salute during the “Laying of the Roses” ceremony held Saturday at the American Legion Post 131 in Leetonia to honor the fallen servicemen from Columbiana County who were killed in action or remain missing in action in the Vietnam War. Each service member’s name was read and a bell rang in honor of their sacrifice before a single rose was placed at a memorial inside the legion hall to commemorate that serviceman’s ultimate sacrifice. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)
Kevin Lowry (left) and Dan Stellmar read the names of area servicemen who were killed in action or remain missing in action during the Vietnam War during the “Laying of the Roses” ceremony held Saturday at the American Legion Post 131 in Leetonia. Each service member’s name was read and a bell rang in honor of their sacrifice before a single rose was placed at a memorial inside the legion hall to commemorate that serviceman’s ultimate sacrifice. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)
Bob Pergola of AMVETS Post 45 speaks at during the “Laying of the Roses” ceremony held Saturday at the American Legion Post 131 in Leetonia to honor the fallen servicemen from Columbiana County who were killed in action or remain missing in action in the Vietnam War. Each service member’s name was read and a bell rang in honor of their sacrifice before a single rose was placed at a memorial inside the legion hall to commemorate that serviceman’s ultimate sacrifice. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)
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LEETONIA -- For the second year in a row, Columbiana County came together to recognize 33 area sons who were killed in action during the Vietnam War. On Saturday, the "Laying of the Roses" ceremony was held at the American Legion Post 131 in Leetonia. Each service member's name was read and a bell rang in honor of their sacrifice before a single rose was placed at a memorial inside the legion hall to commemorate that serviceman's ultimate sacrifice. Services concluded with a 21-gun salute and playing of "Taps" by the Columbiana Post 290 Honor Guard.
Fallen service members honored at the service were Terry Barcus (Army), Joseph Compa Jr. (Army), Larry Crumbaker (Marines), Charles David Jr. (Army), Elwood Davis Jr. (Army), Ralph Dias (Marines), Lawrence Esterly (Marines), Daniel Ferry (Army), Alfonza Foster (Army), William Gallaway (Army), Michael Haifley (Navy), Samuel Hall (Marines), Steven Haniotes (Army), William Hughes (Army), Edgar Joy (Army), Robert Labble (Marines), James Lightfoot (Navy), Ernst Madden (Marines), Duane Marhefka (Army), Mitchell McGuire (Army), Duane Means (Marines), Charles Melott (Army), Melvin Newlin (Marines), James Pigott (Marines), Dallas Pridemore (Army), Richard Roach (Navy), James Robinson (Army), Fred Schreckengost (Army), Stephen Sieferth (Army), Larry Shaw (Army), William Sheen (Army), Charles Turri (Army) and Robert Wirks (Army).
The first "Laying of the Roses" ceremony took place last year to mark National Vietnam Veterans Day -- March 29 -- which was officially designated in 2017 when the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act was signed into law. According to the National Conference of State Legislators, the date was chosen as on that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil. Most states celebrate "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" on March 29 or 30 of each year. It is also the date President Nixon chose for the first Vietnam Veterans Day in 1974.
Organizers of the "Laying of the Roses" ceremony established a committee to raise funds and promote the commemoration with the goal of the ceremony to be hosted by a different local veterans organization each year with support from the committee and other veteran clubs.
Also taking part in the ceremony were VFW Post 5532 in Washingtonville, American Legion Post 290 in Columbiana, DAV Chapter 122, AMVETS Post 45 in Salem, the American Legion Columbiana County Council, Mahoning County DAV and the Veterans Service Commission of Mahoning County.