The Taylorville Kiwanis Club honored its December Kiwanis “Community Hero of the Month”, and heard from a local Vietnam Veteran who was a prisoner of war from 1968 to 1973, at their weekly meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge on Tuesday.

Santa Claus (right) was named this month’s “Hero of the Month” for all the wonderful things he does for children and youth in the Taylorville community and around the world each year.  Santa was on hand to accept the award, that was presented by Kiwanis president-elect Chuck Martin (left).

Dick Zeigler arrived in South Vietnam in 1967 as a helicopter pilot.  A mission he flew to deliver radio parts in 1968 had an unexpected result:  His helicopter was shot down and he and one other person in the aircraft were taken prisoner by the Viet Cong from North Vietnam.

Zeigler recounted his years as a prisoner of war, including how he and his fellow P-O-W’s dealt with the prison guards and life in various P-O-W camps.  He added they were fed bread and water twice a day while being captive, and he was interrogated at various times while being a prisoner.

Zeigler told the Kiwanis Club that the military had declared him missing during his entire time as a prisoner of war.

Zeigler and the rest of the P-O-W’s were released by North Vietnam in February of 1973.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.