All three Downbeach communities May 31 celebrated the unofficial start of summer, but not before remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for a free America.
Ventnor started the day with a service outside of City Hall honoring those men and women who died in American wars along with the police and firefighters who serve citizens on the home front.
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Greater Absecon Island VFW Post 215 Quartermaster Roger Emmick spoke during the brief ceremony about high rate of suicide among veterans, police and firefighters.
Over the last 10 years, it has become more hazardous to be a police officer than to be in the military, he said, noting that 133 police officers have died in the line of duty this year. Their lost lives result in a huge cost to families and community.
It is only fitting that today we honor all those who cannot be with us, he said.
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At a service in All Wars Memorial Park that followed Margate's annual parade, Mayor Michael Becker recalled how Memorial Day came to be.
Today is a day to remember those who died for our country. Their sacrifice is proof the price of freedom is not free, he said. He quoted President John F. Kennedy: Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty.
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In Longport, a larger than normal crowd gathered to watch the parade and attend a service at Thomas B. Reed Park at the foot of the Longport bridge.
Post Chaplain John Murphy read a letter sent by President Abraham Lincoln to the mother of five sons who died in the Civil War and recalled President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's letter to the mother of the Sullivan brothers, who died in the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II. Murphy said there were 30 sets of brothers who served on their ship.
In addition to honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Mayor Nicholas Russo remembered the sacrifices made by the American people over the last 15 months of COVID-19.
I can't help but think their sacrifices were minor compared to the sacrifices made on the American home front during World War II∧ the extreme mental anguish of families not knowing what would come next, he said.
Special guest of the American Legion Post 469 was U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Adam Fleck, who was the post's 2018 Wounded Warrior Week recipient.
Fleck said that his week in Longport was life changing and gave him hope after years of recovery from his injuries in Afghanistan. He said while in Longport, he bonded with the veterans he met like they were members of his own platoon.
The scars of war run deep, he said. Today, I ask of you three things: 1. Don't forget those who died and be there for each other; 2. keep Wounded Warrior Week going; and 3. Get together on Memorial Day and raise a glass to those who died.
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