Former POWs recognized for sacrifice
Annual luncheon honors veterans from several wars
The event was held in observance of POW Remembrance Day on April 9, which commemorates the Japanese conquest of Bataan in 1942 in which a large number of American soldiers were captured and subjected to cruelty. Veterans from as far as southern Idaho and eastern Nevada were in attendance at the Salt Lake Airport Hilton.
"No one knows what war is like unless they've been in one. I want to thank you," said Utah Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert. "As a father and grandfather I'm concerned about the need for heroes ... I would like my children to look up to people like you. These are the real American heroes."
Event organizer Tom Aikins, chairman of the committee, said every year attendance dwindles as the names of veterans fill the obituary pages. As long as they're alive, he said, the committee wants to honor them every April.
For many the yearly luncheon is a chance to see old friends and make new acquaintances. Bob McGregor of East Millcreek said he attends every year and found out that he and the man sitting next to him were both at the same camp 63 years ago and had never met before.
McGregor was stationed in the heel of Italy and was shot down over Austria. He is the last living member of his 450th bombing crew flying B-24 Liberators.
E-mail: akirk@desnews.com
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