Over this past weekend, the Carroll County Republican Women, teamed up with the Historical Committee and the Youth Engagement Committee to honor the 50th anniversary of the last United States Vietnam combat troops and prisoners of war (P.O.W) who were brought home. On Saturday, these organizations held the first annual pancake breakfast to honor 40 Carroll County Vietnam-era veterans and served over 160 community members who came to pay their respects to those soldiers. President of the Carroll County Republican Women, Cindy Scaturico, came up with an annual event after being approached by a Vietnam Veteran back in 2022, saying that there was nothing in the area being done to honor National Vietnam Veterans Day, which is celebrated every year on March 29. Scaturico says, “We don’t ever want our children to ever forget the sacrifices these veterans made for our country.” Included at this breakfast was a presentation by Ed Rohner, American Legion Veterans Advocate, who presented each Carroll County Vietnam Veteran with a “Band-Aid For Your Heart” Pin, and gave them the proper “Welcome Home, My Brother.” A Missing Man Table and Honor Ceremony was completed by students from surround schools, who read bios of the six local soldiers who never made it home during the Vietnam War. Scaturico says this was a community effort and thanks Rohner for his presentation and support, R.T Schrek and the American Legion of Carroll along with the help from the Carroll and Glidden Boy scouts and the Carroll Kiwanis for all their help to make this event possible. Scaturico says she is looking forward to working with all organizations again next year. Pictures from the Vietnam Veteran’s Breakfast, along with the list of names of the Carroll County Vietnam Soldiers who never returned home, have been included with this story below.
** All Pictures Courtesy of the Carroll Co. Republican Women and Cindy Scaturico **
Soldiers Honored During Missing Man Ceremony:
Missing in Action: Donald Lee Sparks
Killed in Action: Lawrence Raymond Hagedorn
Missing in Action: Donald Lee Sparks
Killed in Action: Thomas John Eischeid
Killed in Action: Gerald Lee Feltner
Killed in Action: Steven Thurlow Jewell
Missing Man Table: Six Chairs to represent each branch of military, round table to show everlasting concern, white cloth for purity, single red rose for the lives of these soldiers and their loved ones, The yellow ribbon for continuing uncertainty, the hope for their return, and our
determination to account for them, lemon slice for the bitter fate endured, pinch of salt for the tears shed by the loved ones, lighted candle in hope for their return, the Bible for strength in faith, inverted glass for the inability to share the toast, and empty chairs to represent them missing.
Student Presenters (L-R) : Marrisa Anthofer, Hannah Pietig, Sophia Scaturico, Jaxx Luetje, Joy Luetje, Justice Luetje
