News-Info-Alerts

Re: The Vigil Continues

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: June 19, 2002

"Annual POW/MIA vigil held in Milford
By MEG BARONE

Correspondent

MILFORD

Tears sometimes flowed as heavily as did the weekend rain that muddied the Milford Green during the 24-hour POW/MIA vigil.

At least 100 people participated in the emotional event between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday, near the Vietnam and Korean War memorial. At the top of every hour, a volunteer was bound, blindfolded and secured inside a bamboo cage to represent one of the 34 Connecticut men still missing in action from the Vietnam War. Their names were listed on a wall of remembrance in the encampment.

Each volunteer gave an hour of their time to sit in the cage, and on their release they were greeted by war veterans and family members who offered hugs and thanks, as patriotic music resounded across the Green. And each volunteer received a red, white and blue ribbon with the name of their veteran.

Ten-year-old Marissa Driver of Shelton, the youngest person ever to go into the cage, drew the name of Charles Austin of New Canaan, who has been missing since April 24, 1967.

"At first I was nervous but then I was happy because I was representing someone who represented our country," said Marissa, who was not alone in the cage. She joined her grandfather, Henry Lepri, also of Shelton, a veteran of the Vietnam War and vice president of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 251 based in Milford, the group that sponsored the vigil.

"I believe

along with the rest of our chapter members

that they are still alive. We want answers. We do not want the government to give up seeking for remains or live sightings," said Lepri, who represented Stuart Andrews of Stamford, missing since March 4, 1966.

The remains of one of Connecticut's missing sons, Peter Cleary, of Colchester, were buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on April 12. A contingent of about 20 people from Connecticut attended the burial service, including Lori Grenfell of West Haven, who has worn a bracelet engraved with Cleary's name since 1975, three years after he was reported missing.

"It was hard to take it off because I wore that bracelet for so long," said Grenfell, who presented it to Cleary's two children. Grenfell, who participated in the Milford vigil, said bracelet wearers are urged to give it to family members when a POW/MIA is accounted for and returned home, or break it in half and leave it at their grave site.

William A. Parkin, of Milford, said he stopped by the vigil "to remember my fallen comrades." Parkin enlisted in the US Navy only months after graduating from Jonathan law High School in 1967. The Enlisted Man Third Grade served on an aircraft carrier in Vietnam from 1967-71.

Whitey Szerszen, of Trumbull, a veteran of World War II and a prisoner of war for 877 days, was the first person in the cage Friday night. Szerszen has attended the vigils all over the state for more than a decade and estimates he has spent more than 50 hours in the cage. Even knowing the confinement at the vigil was only for one hour, Szerszen became emotional when he talked about it.

"Most of the time when I get in the cage I close my eyes and don't talk to anyone and concentrate on what's got to be done," he said. Despite his grueling experiences

including starvation

as a captive of the Germans, Szerszen said he does not think about his time as a POW in that hour, rather he thinks of those who are still missing.

"I didn't give up hope," he said, and he hopes those Americans who may still be held in Southeast Asia never give up either.

"We're not going to stop the vigils until we have an accounting for each name that is on this wall," said Emery Linton of Bridgeport, a veteran of the Vietnam War and chairman of the Milford vigil."