Saugus honors those missing in action

SAUGUS – Saugus veterans and town officials took time to remember prisoners of war and those missing in action last week at a ceremony held at the Library Friday night.Selectmen Vice Chairman and Veterans Council President Steve Castinetti and Executive Officer of the Veterans Council Richard Christopher led the ceremony, which was held in honor of National POW-MIA Recognition Day.?It went well,” said Castinetti. “It was a good night. It really was. The ceremony is very touching. It can be emotional.”The ceremony featured the Lynn English JROTC, which marched in the flags for each branch of the military and performed the table ceremony, a benediction and ended with the playing of Taps.?The Lynn English JROTC did a phenomenal job for us,” said Castinetti. “There?s an empty table ceremony that we do commemorating the missing in action and prisoners of war. Everything on the table is very symbolic.”According to Castinetti, the table setting included an inverted wine glass to symbolize the missing not being able to toast, salt to symbolize tears, a lemon for the bitterness of being held captive and a lone candle to symbolize the frailty of a prisoner alone.?It helps people remember those that haven?t made it home,” said Castinetti. “I finished up my comments saying that even though today is POW-MIA Recognition Day, every day should be POW-MIA Recognition Day.”Christopher gave the keynote comments for the evening, and on Tuesday said he was very happy with the turnout. Christopher said there were about 40 people in attendance including Town Manager Scott Crabtree, selectmen and State Rep. Donald Wong.?We had less people this year, but it went off really, really nice,” said Christopher. “We might be doing it in there from now on because it was very comfortable, and Rich Garabedian did all the music and filmed it.”Christopher spoke about Bowe Bergdahl, a 25-year-old Army Sergeant who has been held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2009.?He?s the only missing soldier held by the insurgents,” said Christopher. “They don?t know his whereabouts and there are no signs of him whatsoever. We still don?t know where his fate lies.”Even through Christopher said he was happy with Friday?s ceremony, he said he wished more people would pay attention to veterans in general.?In today?s times it seems to be only people who have served in the military or families that have people in the military that care about these things that veterans put on,” said Christopher. “I really don?t see a large crowd coming out to support it. I believe our country is very patriotic ? but I just don?t have the answers why people don?t come out and support the parades and POW-MIA Recognition Day. It?s just a shame where we are today.”To help bring more awareness to veterans and wars past and present, Christopher said local veterans are planning to speak at Saugus schools for Veterans Day.?Not only to go there and speak but to make the children aware,” said Christopher. “Most of them have to have had a grandfather, an uncle or even a father serving.”With the ceremony set to air on Saugus Community Television Station, Christopher said he hopes it will boost attendance for next year.?Maybe they?ll get a large viewing watching it and maybe next year we can get more people for a turnout,” said Christopher. “We want the public out there. It?s not for us, it?s to say, ?Thank you? to them for acknowledging what we had done.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].