By MADDY VITALE
Crowds filled Veterans Memorial Park in Ocean City on Memorial Day to honor military men and women who bravely served their country, some never to return home.
During the somber ceremony, the community paid tribute to veterans and active military members and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
VFW Post 6650 Commander Mike Morrissey introduced the keynote speaker, Vietnam veteran Ralph Galati, of Delaware County, Pa., who was a prisoner of war for 406 days.
Galati, a U.S. Air Force veteran, was shot down in his F-4 Phantom jet in 1972.
“Today, I have the high honor of introducing a fellow Vietnam veteran who went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our freedoms. All of us who were sent to Vietnam went to honorably do our duty and get out of there and return to our families with dignity,” Morrissey said.
He continued, “For some, the latter was more difficult than anyone would possibly imagine. Today, we have the privilege of meeting a great American hero, who would not jeopardize his fellow soldiers and not allow his captors the satisfaction of breaking his will because he also wanted to return to his home with dignity. Because of his beliefs, he was tortured, beaten and dehumanized beyond what any soldier was ever expected to endure.”
Galati returned home to his family on March 28, 1973, in “Operation Freedom.”
Despite what Galati endured, despite being tortured, when he took the podium, he spoke about the horrors and bravery of others who have served.
He said to remember and honor those who have fallen.
“Since the founding of our country, we have 1.35 million service members who have died in combat. For those my age, the Vietnam War is familiar,” he said.
Then he spoke about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., which lists the many names of those who died for their country.
“We need to remember, behind the name is a family and neighborhood that needs to be recognized,” Galati said.
Throughout the ceremony, there were many traditions honored.
Mayor Jay Gillian emphasized in his remarks the importance of honoring veterans. He announced that on June 14, which is Flag Day, the city will dedicate an empty chair to be displayed at the Ocean City Community Center and be a symbol of the U.S. service members still unaccounted for.
In addition, the city is setting August aside as a time to pay particular tribute to veterans in Ocean City.
“We have dedicated the month of August as Veterans Month in Ocean City. Each August, we will plan different ways to honor veterans,” Gillian said.
He continued, “We are here today to remember those who died in the service of our country, and this display will help us remember these men and these women every day throughout the year, not just on Memorial Day.”
Some emotional portions of the ceremony are steeped in tradition.
American Legion Post 524 Commander Bob Marzulli performed the Honor Roll with Paul Banfe, also of Post 524, and Jim Zbikowski of VFW Post 6650.
The Honor Roll is the reading of the names of men and women who died while serving. As each name was read, Zbikowski would strike a bell.
During the ceremony, as every year before, the crowd gets quiet as American Legion Post 524 Adjutant Jack Hagan talks of the significance of an empty table, set for one, just a few feet from him.
The tiny table was draped with a white tablecloth and a red rose. A glass was inverted on the table.
There was one empty chair. The table and other items represented the soldiers who were taken prisoner or went missing in action and never returned home from war.
The chair remained empty because the soldiers are still missing. But a white candle was also placed on the table, symbolizing the hope that all of the missing soldiers will someday return home.
During the service, there was the Armed Forces Medley, in which veterans stood up when a veteran carried a flag for their particular branch of service.
There was also the presentation of the wreath by John Kocher of American Legion Post 524 and Ron Williams of Post 6650. Air Force Lt. Col. Tom Dahl gave the benediction.
Bugler Greg Murphy performed Taps. Michael Allegretto, aide to Mayor Jay Gillian, emceed the program and Natalie Ragazzo sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.”
