Veteran Dale Baringer of Austintown places a rose on the Veterans Memorial in Youngstown.....Staff photo / Bob Coupland

YOUNGSTOWN — Nearly 100 roses were placed at the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial marker in downtown Youngstown to remember those from Mahoning County who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms provided today.

The Laying of the Roses Ceremony took place Sunday where the names of Mahoning County Vietnam veterans who were killed or are missing were read aloud and then a rose was placed by a local veteran, friend or family member at the Mahoning County Vietnam War Veterans Memorial.

Susan Krawchyk, executive director of Mahoning County Veterans Services, said the annual Laying of the Roses ceremony is to recognize and remember the veterans from Mahoning County who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.

She said when Vietnam veterans returned home, they were not treated as well as those returning from other wars.

“It has changed over the years and unfortunately they did not get the recognition that they deserved when they came home as others did when they came home from Iraq. We have the many freedoms we have today because of the Vietnam veterans and all those who served in all wars,” Krawchyk said.

She said the event draws family members.

The local ceremony used to take place in November but was moved to March for the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day on March 29.

She said an empty POW/ MIA chair was placed in the center of the ceremony to remember those who died and those who are missing.

“We are compelled to never forget that while we enjoy our daily lives, there are others who have endured the agonies of pain and imprisonment. There are many not able to be with their loved ones and families today. We today pay our humble tribute to them and bear witness to their continued absence. The empty chair reminds us that our comrade will always be with us in our hearts and in our minds,” Krawchyk said.

Dale Baringer of Austintown, an Army veteran, a commissioner with Mahoning County Veterans Services and member of local Disabled American Veterans, said he tries not to remember what happened in Vietnam when he was there from 1968 to 1971, but rather what he does today working with veterans, being involved with Toys for Tots, helping to take care of veterans’ families and having been part of 1,239 local military funerals.

“This is not only Vietnam veterans, but it is important to honor all veterans of all wars. They made a sacrifice for us and paid a personal debt. Their sacrifice can never be repaid, but we have got to remember them with events like this today,” Baringer said.

He said he and other DAV members also were taking part in the first-ever Laying of the Roses ceremony Sunday in East Palestine.

“With all they have going on there, we wanted to do something special for those people. We will show them how the ceremony is done in Youngstown and help them with their ceremony. We hope they can carry on this annual tradition,” Baringer said.

Chief Warrant Officer David Kountz, a Poland resident and a retired attack helicopter pilot who served in Vietnam, shared the stories of six Vietnam veterans who served when he did.

He told of the young lives that ended, who included Robert Stanko of Youngstown who served in the Army, Joseph Hallas of Youngstown who served in the Marine Corps, William Gorvet of Youngstown who served in the Marine Corps, Robert Porea of Youngstown who served in the Army, Fred Rugh of Youngstown who served in the Army and Richard Powell of Youngstown who served in the Navy.

Koutz said all of them lost their lives in Vietnam and were between the ages of 18 and 22.

“I want to thank all of them and their families. You are always in my prayers,” he said.

On March 29, 2017, National Vietnam Veterans Day officially was designated as a way for Americans to honor and celebrate those from generations ago.

The local 7-foot-tall Vietnam marker sits in downtown Youngstown and was installed in 1989. It lists the names of of those from Mahoning County killed or missing in action. The back reads “1959-1975: The Vietnam War.”

bcoupland@tribtoday.com