This year sixteen World War II veterans were honored at the Van Zandt Medical Center.

Lewis Fulare of Huntingdon County, is just one of the sixteen WWII veterans honored at Saturday’s ceremony. The veterans received special pins to recognize their service, but its the size of the crowd that really meant the most to Fulare.

“I think it’s very nice that people actually come out like this, said Lewis Fulare. “Show their appreciation. And uh, we appreciate it.”

Among those sixteen men that were honored, seven of them survived more than what they faced on the battlefield.

“None of the folks here are under 90,” said Ivan Riggle, an Assistant Armed Forces Day committee member. “Seven of the folks that are here have been prisoners of war either in Germany or Italy.”

Fulare was also one of those men.

Fulare said, “they drafted me and a year later, I was 27 missions in and was shot down and was a prisoner of war in Germany.”

After the mementos were given to each of the honorees, there was a special wreath ceremony honoring all service men and women..

“We just did what we were supposed to do,” said Fulare. “It is nice of them to come out here and do it and do what they can do. They don’t have it, but it’s nice of them to come out here and do it. We appreciate them coming out and showing their appreciation.”