Hometown Greets Former Hostage

After 39 months of captivity in the Middle East and another five months recovering from throat cancer, Robert Polhill finally returned home Sunday.

Polhill, 56, was welcomed with a parade and hundreds of well-wishers wearing yellow ribbons. More than 500 people lined Main Street in this Hudson River city to catch a glimpse of the former hostage and listen to a brief ceremony held in his honor.

Ribbons festooned telephone poles and sign posts along the eight-mile parade route from the small village of Fishkill, about 50 miles north of New York City, to Beacon. People lined the route holding balloons and waving American flags.

Recovering from his throat cancer and unable to speak, Polhill simply waved to the throngs as he rode with his wife in a limousine. Police flanked the route, and firetrucks and a small band joined the procession, which was held in conjunction with “Spirit of Beacon Day.”

“It makes me happy to see that Robert was not forgotten,” said Polhill’s wife, Ferial. “Remembrance is important.”

Polhill, an assistant business professor at Beirut University, was captured by Muslim extremists on Jan. 24, 1987. He was released on April 22 of this year, but was immediately hospitalized for diabetes and malnutrition.

Once stateside at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, a growth removed from his vocal cords was found to be cancerous. Polhill’s voice box was removed during the operation.