POWs and MIAs HONORED BY CONNERS AT ANNUAL EVENT

POWs and MIAs HONORED BY CONNERS AT ANNUAL EVENT

(CINNAMINSON) – Assemblyman Jack Conners (D-Pennsauken) today was joined by more than 600 veterans, guests and local officials to honor POWs and MIAs at an annual breakfast hosted by the assemblyman.

Among those honored was Joseph O’Donnell, a Robbinsville resident and World War II veteran who was a prisoner-of-war in Germany for nine months and was on a forced march that lasted 86 days and 600 miles. Conners presented O’Donnell with a federal Prisoner of War medal.

“Those like Mr. O’Donnell who were forced to endure conditions most of us would prefer to not even think about deserve our utmost respect and gratitude,” Conners said. “Their courage must never be forgotten.”

At least 20 former POWs, MIAs or their relatives attended the event. Some were awarded the New Jersey POW/MIA medal. The medal was instituted through legislation sponsored by Conners.

Also attending was Judith Young, a Moorestown resident and past president of the National Gold Star Mothers organization. Young’s son was killed in action in Lebanon.

The event, as always, was held on the National POW/MIA Day of Remembrance and featured a “Missing Man” ceremony, a solemn and moving salute to unaccounted-for soldiers from New Jersey.

Conners, chairman of the Assembly Military and Veteran’s Affairs Committee, has seen the event grow from 90 attendees at a local VFW post to more than 600 invited guests from throughout the state.

“I am proud to hold this event each year to bring awareness to the sacrifices made for our country,” Conners said.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars has reported as many as 1,900 Americans remain missing or unaccounted for from the Vietnam Conflict, 8,100 from Korea and over 78,000 from World War II.