Korean War veteran John Varallo from Mays landing, Vice Commander of Atlantic County Korean War Veterans during a moment of silence at Patriot Park in Somers Point during a Veterans Day ceremony sponsored by the Veterans Service Organizations of Somers Point. Friday November , 11 2011 ANTHONY SMEDILE
"Somers Point Mayor Jack Glasser said the turnout, especially in the chilly conditions, shows how much support the city has for its veterans. But Glasser also used the ceremony to update his plea for the remains of one of the city's most famous veterans and its namesake - Navy Master Commandant Richard Somers - to be returned home."
"In 1804, Somers was ordered to load the ketch USS Intrepid with explosives, sail it into Tripoli Harbor, and explode it among the ships of the Libyan fleet. But the mission failed when the ship exploded prematurely - possibly on purpose to prevent the ammunition from getting into the hands of enemy pirates - and the bodies of Somers and his 12 crew members have been buried in Libya ever since, despite efforts spanning more than a century to bring them home."
"Glasser said a bill is about to go before the U.S. Senate, sponsored by a trio of out-of-state senators, calling for the recovery of the remains of all 13 men."
"'We are asking everyone to contact our senators - Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez - to urge their support for this bill so we can finally bring him home,' Glasser said."
By ROB SPAHR, Staff Writer |
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/more-than-gather-for-veterans-day-event-in-somers-point/article_ef3a54b6-0ca4-11e1-8437-001cc4c002e0.html
SOMERS POINT - More than 100 people gathered at Patriot Park on Friday morning to honor the men and women who fought for their country.
A cold wind left many of those in attendance shivering in place and assorted flags whipping violently in the air during the ceremony. But U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, said things could have been worse.
"Imagine what the conditions are like in the mountains of Afghanistan right now," LoBiondo told the crowd. "Land of the free, home of the brave? This is the land of the free because of the brave."
Many recent tributes to veterans have highlighted the members of World War II's "Greatest Generation," particularly with the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor less than a month away. But the event's emcee, Atlantic County Veterans Services Director Robert Frolow, said Friday's ceremony honored all veterans, regardless of when or how they served.
"The veterans from each conflict are the greatest members of their generation," said Frolow, a veteran of the Vietnam War, adding that honor extends all the way from those who fought on the front lines to truck drivers and cooks. "They all served a job representing the greatest country in the world."
Somers Point Mayor Jack Glasser said the turnout, especially in the chilly conditions, shows how much support the city has for its veterans. But Glasser also used the ceremony to update his plea for the remains of one of the city's most famous veterans and its namesake - Navy Master Commandant Richard Somers - to be returned home.
In 1804, Somers was ordered to load the ketch USS Intrepid with explosives, sail it into Tripoli Harbor, and explode it among the ships of the Libyan fleet. But the mission failed when the ship exploded prematurely - possibly on purpose to prevent the ammunition from getting into the hands of enemy pirates - and the bodies of Somers and his 12 crew members have been buried in Libya ever since, despite efforts spanning more than a century to bring them home.
Glasser said a bill is about to go before the U.S. Senate, sponsored by a trio of out-of-state senators, calling for the recovery of the remains of all 13 men.
"We are asking everyone to contact our senators - Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez - to urge their support for this bill so we can finally bring him home," Glasser said.
Also Friday, World War II veteran Paul Krizauskas was posthumously awarded a Bronze Medal for his service during the infamous Battle of the Bulge in Europe.
"My father would have said that his was not his award, that it belonged to his buddy who was killed in the foxhole next to him," said Judy Corcoran, 68, of Linwood, who accepted her father's medal along with other members of her family who came to ceremony from as far away as Alaska. "In fact, he only spoke of this (incident) to us once, and that was in the late 1940s."
Contact Rob Spahr:
609-272-7147
RSpahr@pressofac.com
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