Former POWs honored at VA WNY ceremony

Lt. Col. Patrick A. Soos, center, was the keynote speaker at the VA POW ceremony held on April 9. He is pictured with Bob MacPhereson of Kenmore and Edward Feigenbaum of Wilson. Both are former prisoners of war. Feigenbaum escaped and spent five months underground.

Six years ago, on April 7, 2002, President George W. Bush signed a proclamation making April 9, Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.

As a result, the VA Western New York Healthcare System, on Bailey Avenue in Buffalo, held a commemoration ceremony last Wednesday honoring all former prisoners of war from all wars fought by the U.S. military. It was attended by many former POWs, most from WWII, but also other recent wars.

The ceremony opened with the presentation of colors by uniformed members of the Vietnam Veterans of America, WNY Chapter 77, as the veterans in attendance stood at attention with a hand salute.

"Many had a tear or two roll down their cheek as time was erased, and they were once more transported back to those days of service. It happens that way, as most vets know. You never really take off that uniform once you've worn it, especially the former POWs," said Paul Cozad, a WWII veteran from Wheatfield.

The ceremony's keynote speaker was Lt. Colonel Patrick A. Soos, who is still on active service but planning to retire this year. He is also a professor of military service at Niagara University.

Cozad said Soos' remarks honored all former POWs as he recognized their sacrifices and the conditions they endured during internment.

"As he talked, I looked around at the many former POWs sitting there, and every so often you would see some stare off in space with that 'thousand-yard' stare as memories forced a reliving of those times, times only they could truly ever know," Cozad said.