Government and military officials discussed the importance of remembrance and public service at a Memorial Day ceremony Monday morning at War Memorial Plaza near New Castle.
With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine serving as the geopolitical backdrop, Gov. John Carney and Sen.s Chris Coons and Tom Carper were among the speakers that honored the decades of fallen soldiers memorialized through monuments and plaques around the park.
“They led with bravery and selflessness,” Carney said. “They died with courage and self-sacrifice.”
The governor stood in front of a wall inscribed with the names of Delawareans and New Jerseyans who died in World War II and the Korean War. Cars hummed past the ceremony toward the Delaware Memorial Bridge, which is dedicated in their honor.
In his remarks, Carney told the stories of Delawareans throughout history killed in the line of battle. Among them was Pfc. Joey Marquez, a 19-year-old who after graduating from Sussex Technical High School decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, a master sergeant in the Army. Marquez died last month in a vehicle accident during training in Washington state.
“There are thousands of these stories through the history of our country and our state and the thread running through all of the stories is… they all made a choice to serve honorably,” Carney said. “Some made the deliberate choice to sacrifice their lives for someone else’s.”
Coons said a priority of his when Congress returns to session next month will be bringing burn pit legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk. The legislation seeks to deliver the necessary benefits and care to veterans exposed to burn pits and other airborne hazards while serving.
Coons echoed Biden’s remarks at the University of Delaware’s graduation ceremony Saturday, saying that the U.S. is at a turning point in world relations. He thanked those who played a role in America’s story so far.
“To all who today mourn, know that your sacrifice is remembered, that it matters and that it is part of this great arc of sacrifice in service of a nation dedicated to freedom,” he said.
Biden, who attended last year’s ceremony, was not present Monday. After returning to Delaware last night from Uvalde, Texas, where he met with the families of victims of the elementary school shooting there, Biden attended mass Monday morning at St. Joseph on the Brandywine.
He and First Lady Jill Biden visited the grave of Beau Biden, who died on May 30 seven years ago from brain cancer. They then attended a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Col. Chip Hollinger, the mortuary affairs commander at Dover Air Force Base, served as Monday’s keynote speaker. Hollinger recently was in charge of the return of 13 service members who died in Kabul, Afghanistan, last year.
“Freedom as we know it is worth celebrating,” Hollinger said. “However, we must never forget that our freedom comes at an extremely high cost and has never been free.”
Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @holveck_brandon.
