Staff photo / Chris McBride James Campbell solemnly places a single rose at the base of the POW / MIA memorial in downtown Warren, honoring the sacrifices of prisoners of war and those still missing in action during a remembrance ceremony Friday.

WARREN — With a single rose placed delicately on a cage filled with boots and a lantern, veterans and community members gathered Friday at the Trumbull County Veterans Memorial to honor the more than 60 local veterans who were prisoners of war or went missing in action.

The ceremony, held in conjunction with National POW / MIA Day, included a symbolic table set for those who never returned and the reading of the names of the fallen and missing.

The memorial, surrounded by war monuments and thousands of engraved bricks, served as the backdrop as community members gathered to honor the sacrifices of those who served in the nation’s armed forces.

For Kenneth David, a Vietnam War veteran, the ceremony wasn’t just about honoring the dead — it was about reflecting on the brothers who never had the chance to grow old. David said he tries to participate in the event annually.

He spoke about the connection between the roses and the veterans being remembered.

“People laying a rose, most of them know the name that was called, the bell that was rung in their honor. So, I pay respect,” he said.

He explained that the boots inside the cage represent the jungle boots soldiers wore in Vietnam.

For five months, David served in Vietnam before being seriously injured. He recalled the harsh conditions of war.

“We lived in the jungle, 45 days at a time, came in, took a shower, shaved and went back out for another 40 days,” he said. “No cots, no air mattresses, hard ground, no raincoats, noise.”

Despite the brutal realities of combat, David managed to save seven lives the day he was injured.

“I didn’t go through the light,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “But every day, I think about those who didn’t make it.”

David and his fellow soldiers were stationed in A Shau Valley, a strategic yet perilous location during the Vietnam War, famously known for Operation Dewey Canyon in 1969. The area was notorious for its dangers, and David recalled being warned that their survival past 90 days was unlikely.

The ceremony also included remarks from Warren Mayor Doug Franklin and Herman Breuer, executive director of the Trumbull County Veterans Service Commission.

Allen Briggs conducted the roll call of the fallen, while Breuer handled the closing and the retiring of the colors. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Trumbull County Veterans Service Commission Deputy Director Cari Delgado, and Garey Watson of the Trumbull County American Legion Honor Guard performed the national anthem. Kevin Patterson gave the invocation, Watson led the missing man tribute, and the 21-rifle salute was performed by the Trumbull County Honor Guard, DAV Chapter 11.

This year marked the first time the Veterans Service Commission oversaw the event — a role traditionally handled by other organizations. Delgado talked about how the change allowed for smoother coordination among commissioners from various veteran organizations in Trumbull County.

The transition resulted in an increased turnout, reflecting the community’s strong interest in honoring the 62 local veterans who were killed in action or went missing in action.

“We actually ran out of programs, but that’s a great problem to have,” Delgado said. “It shows how deeply people care about honoring our veterans. The community members who laid roses often had personal connections to those being remembered.”

Franklin reflected on the powerful symbolism of the roses placed in honor of the fallen. “The red roses symbolize those who sacrificed for our country. Each rose holds a personal message in honor of the veterans on the wall, those who never had a chance to come home, those missing in action, and those who later died after the Vietnam War ended,” Franklin said.

He went on to describe the laying of the roses as a breathtaking sight that “demonstrates both the gratitude and the sacrifice of the families impacted by war.”

As the ceremony drew to a close, participants lingered at the memorial, reading the names etched in stone, a quiet reflection of the lives left behind and the sacrifices made.