Honoring fallen Vietnam veterans

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Barry Landgraver, Executive Director of the Veterans Service Commission lays a rose for a local soldier killed or missing-in-action in the Vietnam War at the VIetnam War Memorial in the Federal Plaza Sunday, November 2, 2008. Daniel C. Britt.

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George Otto, service officer for the American Legion who specializes in Veterans Mental Health, lays a rose for a local soldier killed or missing-in-action in the Vietnam War at the VIetnam War Memorial in the Federal Plaza Sunday, November 2, 2008. Daniel C. Britt.

By Sean Barron

A table was set to honor those who are still missing or prisoners of war.

YOUNGSTOWN — Nida Rentas and John O. Oquendo Jr. were best friends during and after their days as students at Campbell Memorial High School.

More than 40 years later, Rentas fondly remembers how some fellow students referred to Oquendo as “professor” because of how intelligent, disciplined and studious he was, and because he always seemed to be carrying school books with him.

“He was just a lovely human being and would go out of his way to be nice to people,” Rentas said.

After high school, Oquendo joined the military and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., before leaving for Vietnam, where he worked as a nurse.

“I told him to be careful before he left,” recalled Nida’s husband, John, who also served in the Marines and was at Camp Lejeune.

That was the last time the Campbell couple saw their friend. Oquendo was killed in action in 1966 while serving in the Vietnam War.

Forty-two years later, John and Nida Rentas found themselves honoring their fallen friend during Sunday’s 17th annual Laying of the Roses ceremony on Youngstown’s Central Square.

Oquendo was one of about 100 fallen or missing comrades from Mahoning County to have served in the Vietnam War who were remembered during the somber two-hour ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial. Sponsoring the program were the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 135, American Legion Post 472 and the local chapter of the International Association of Workforce Professionals, all of Youngstown.

As the name of each fallen soldier was read, family, friends, fellow veterans and others placed a red rose next to the black granite memorial. Before placing the flower, some stood for a moment to reflect; others gave a salute or touched the inscribed name of their loved one.

Roses also were left to recognize the county veterans who died from illnesses related to their service in Vietnam.

To honor those who are still missing or prisoners of war, a Table of Remembrance was set with items including a white tablecloth, a single red rose, an overturned glass, a candle and a lemon slice — all ripe with symbolism.

The tablecloth represented the soldiers’ purity in serving their country, while the rose was symbolic of the blood they shed, explained Gus Guzman, the event’s organizer. The lemon and glass stood for the bitter fate some faced, and the fact that some couldn’t be home to make a toast, respectively. The candle meant a light of hope, Guzman continued.

The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Dr. Cynthia E. Anderson, Youngstown State University’s vice president for student affairs.

Anderson, who was given an award for her work with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, told her audience of a few hundred that many lessons about history, life, courage and community can be gleaned from the Vietnam War.

The memorial “portrays the reality of war,” but also helps loved ones and others draw their own messages while reflecting on the past, even if such recollections.are painful, she said. But at the same time, seeing the names should allow people to realize how fortunate they are to have families and other gifts, Anderson noted.

“Let us remember always how precious life and freedom really are,” she added.

The ceremony also featured the posting and retiring of colors, an invocation and the playing of taps. Giving the benediction was George Otto, a counselor at the Veterans Association clinic of Youngstown.