Don Versaw's tribute to Hugh Bolten
a great warrior from the 59th CAC

November 2, 1999
It was my honor to represent POW at the services of our comrade Hugh Bolten yesterday.   I attended the rosary vigil at the mortuary in Cypress on Sunday evening.   His service and sacrifice as a POW was remembered by several including yours truly.   Our military service and experience was similar  -  his in the army and mine in the USMC.

A mass and funeral service was held at Pope Pius V in Buena Park yesterday AM.   It was my honor to have the opportunity to recall the great test of faith he suffered as a POW and how he was left un-scared despite lasting physical impairment.   Yesterday afternoon daughter Judy and I joined the family at Riverside National Cemetery to say our final farewells on this planet.   It was a nice service with a rifle squad of veterans on hand to render the salute and taps were played.   As representative of all Prisoners of War and comrades it was also my single honor to execute our final salute.   A charming priest from a Riverside church, a veteran himself with his air force wings in his pocket (he showed them to us proudly) conducted the service very well.

Earlier in the afternoon, Judy and I visited the unimproved grave site and sprinkled the dried blossoms of red roses from Amelda's funeral on our lot.   The cemetery crew foreman and his staff of gentle workman helped us locate the grave.   I was very impressed with their helpfulness and quiet and respectful cordiality.

We learned that the Bolten plot will be only steps from ours and its comforting to know a comrade POW will ever be so close by.

Respectfully,
Don Versaw