Hingham Remembers America's Missing Soldiers

Hingham resident and World War II prisoner Syd Rosenburg would like to forget his time as a captive, but he just cannot.

On Thursday, the 92-year-old veteran who now lives at Linden Ponds, sat in the Town Hall and watched the Hingham Veterans' Services dedicate an empty chair to remember the country's prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action.

“It’s something I would like to forget, but I can’t,” he said as he sat beside his wife Dorothy.  “ It’s a pleasure to see so many people wish us so well.  To that I say, ‘thank you very much.’”

“It’s one of the most important things we’ve accomplished here in Hingham,” Jermyn said.  “The whole idea of this is not to memorialize and not to make a tribute.  It’s a solid remembrance.”

The idea for the event was initiated by the  Rolling Thunder motorcycle group, a non-profit organization that seeks to honor the nation’s POWs and MIAs and urges the government to find them.

Before the ceremony, the group of bikers rode from the Hingham Shipyard to Town Hall to pay tribute to the missing soldiers.

Joe D’Entremont, president of Rolling Thunders' Massachusetts chapter said his goal is to get chairs dedicated in every town across the state so people will understand that there are still thousands of missing soldiers.

“We’re here to educate the public that there are still thousands of these veterans still missing,” D’Entremont said.  “It’s to bring awareness that since WW1, 91,000 soldiers have yet to return home.”

The Diggings family in Hingham also donated a plaque, which was placed under the chair to honor the late John J. Diggins, who served in the Army from 1957 to 1959.

Thursday's ceremony was attended by local politicians, town officials and veterans.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE CEREMONY.