POW from WWII honored in Lancaster

LANCASTER, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Village of Lancaster dedicated a memorial to Joseph Brown, Jr. Monday night at the municipal building on Broadway.

Brown was serving in the Philippines during World War II when he was captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner of war for 38 months. He returned home in 1945 and lived in Lancaster until his death in 1999.

His daughter, Beth Schroeder, said, "It was very long overdue. Very long overdue. My dad's been gone for 12 years. And like I said, thanks to the Mayor, this has all come together."

Brown's widow was presented with an American flag that flew over his hometown. He is the only known World War II POW from Lancaster.

The flag lowered on Monday will be placed in a permanent shrine honoring Brown's memory in the Lancaster municipal building.