Patricia Wilbur, President of the Department of Mass. VFW, speaks during a remembrance ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Fairhaven Council on Aging on 9/19/26, in front of the “Wall of Honor” at the Senior Center. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Auxiliary held a remembrance ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day (Prisoners of War/Missing in Action) at the Fairhaven Council on Aging/ Senior Center on Saturday, 9/19/26. The event featured several speakers, a display of the Missing Man Table, and a roll call of Massachusetts’ 40 MIA.
Melissa Danforth, President of Fort Phoenix VFW 2892 Auxiliary, emceed the event and greeted the small group that gathered in the room with the “Wall of Honor,” where the photos of local service members are displayed.
She said the events are held to formally recognize those who gave “an extra measure to protect our nation.”
“By being here, we are part of a global effort to bring recognition to this noble mission and to remind the families of this special category of brave patriots that they are truly not forgotten,” said Ms. Danforth.
Patricia Wilbur, President of the Department of Mass. VFW Auxiliary, stressed the hope that the families have to one day find out what happened to their loved ones.
“Hope is everlasting, it’s undying,” she said.
Betty Rosa, Secretary/Treasurer for the Mass. VFW Aux., explained the meaning of each piece of the place setting of the Missing Man Table: it is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner; the tablecloth is white, for purity of their intention; a red rose for the families and loved ones; a yellow ribbon, reminiscent of ribbons tied around trees and worn on lapels of those who bear witness; a slice of lemon, to remind us of their bitter fate; salt, symbolic of the family’s tears as they wait; inverted glass, because they cannot drink with us today; empty chair…they are not here.
Ms. Danforth also read the names of the 40 MIA from Mass., while other members of the Auxiliary lit a flameless candle for each one. The names are from the years 1960–1972, during the Vietnam War.
Fort Phoenix VFW 2892 Auxiliary member, Louise Quintin, whose brother was killed in Vietnam, reads a poem during a remembrance ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Fairhaven Council on Aging on 9/19/26, in front of the “Wall of Honor” at the Senior Center. Photo by Beth David.
The program also included an Invocation, Benediction, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Auxiliary’s newest member, Louise Conway Quintin, whose brother was killed in Vietnam, read a poem she wrote:
September 18th is POW Day
Will our Veterans be remembered today?
Some came home, some did not
Just the thought breaks my heart.
Remember them today and tomorrow, too.
They gave their lives for me and you.
God Bless them.
After the ceremony, Larry Carroll, stood in front of the lit candles for a moment in silence.
His wife, Elaine Carroll, said they came to pay their respects and remember those who did not come home.
“We have to think about them, pray for them,” she said, and keep hoping that they will get back.
Ms. Carroll said their youngest son’s fiance was killed in the 9-11 attacks in New York. She was on the first plane to hit the tower. So they have a lot to remember in their own family.
Ms. Quintin said she joined the auxiliary so she could help veterans because of losing her brother in Vietnam. She said the day was emotional for her, she had visited the Vietnam Wall in Fall River the day before, where they had a large ceremony for POW/MIA Day.
The wall in Fall River is only 20% smaller than the original in DC and is a permanent monument at Veterans Memorial Bicentennial Park (1082 Davol Street). Ms. Quintin is hoping to organize a group to visit the Fall River wall for Veterans Day.
The official POW/MIA Day of Remembrance is designated as the third Friday in September, which was 9/18 this year. Learn more at https://www.pow-miafamiliesorg/recognition-day.
Learn more about the VFW Auxiliary at https://vfwauxma.org/
Learn more about the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Fall River at https://vietnammemorialwall.org; learn more about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in DC at https://www.vvmf.org
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- Melissa Danforth, President of Fort Phoenix VFW 2892 Auxiliary, reads the names of Massachusetts’ Missing in Action, while other members light a flameless candle for each one, during a remembrance ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Fairhaven Council on Aging on 9/19/26, in front of the “Wall of Honor” at the Senior Center. L-R: Lori Paré, Barbara-Jean Stiles, Melissa Danforth (at podium), Kathleen Clement. Photo by Beth David.
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- Melissa Danforth, President of Fort Phoenix VFW 2892 Auxiliary, lights the candle on the Missing Man Table during a remembrance ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Fairhaven Council on Aging on 9/19/26, in front of the “Wall of Honor” at the Senior Center. Photo by Beth David.
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- Members of the Fort Phoenix VFW 2892 Auxiliary observe a moment of silence after lighting a flameless candle for each Mass. MIA during a remembrance ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Fairhaven Council on Aging on 9/19/26, in front of the “Wall of Honor” at the Senior Center. L-R: Barbara-Jean Stiles, Melissa Danforth (at podium), Lori Paré, Kathleen Clement. Photo by Beth David.
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- Members of the state and local Fort Phoenix VFW 2892 Auxiliary pose for a group photo after a remembrance ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Fairhaven Council on Aging on 9/19/26, in front of the “Wall of Honor” at the Senior Center. L-R: Betty Rosa, Barbara-Jean Stiles, Patricia Wilbur, Melissa Danforth, Kathleen Clement, Lori Paré, Louise Quintin. Photo by Beth David.
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