DEL HAVEN – World War II Navy veteran Marvin Hume, 91, was honored Nov. 4 for his sunset flag ceremonies 360 days a year by DAV Chapter 44.
Hume’s honors were heaped upon him at the 12th annual flag retirement ceremony at Cape May County Park South, by U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, (R-2nd), Sen. Jeff VanDrew (D-1st), Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam (both D-1st), Disabled American Veterans Chapter 44 and Lower Township Mayor Michael Beck and Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton.
Hume, who has been featured on nationwide television for his daily sunset service, uses flags that had been placed over veterans’ caskets. There is a two-year waiting period to have a flag used in the ceremony.
Hume told the crowd that the ceremony originated to honor the memory of Navy shipmates of his who died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. He asked everyone to remember his pals if they should ever get to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona memorial. Hume’s one friend was an officer aboard USS Oklahoma, which took seven direct torpedo hits during the attack, rolled in its side, and his friend’s remains were never recovered.
The patriotic event, steeped in tradition and reverence for the U.S. flag, included the ceremonial cutting apart of a tattered flag that was deemed no longer suitable to fly.
Stripe by stripe, DAV Chapter 44 Commander John Grone severed 13 stripes, and finally handed the union to a comrade for burning. A contingent of Marines, Coast Guard and retired Navy held the flag tight as the ceremony advanced.
Joseph Harris, DAV national trustee, noted that annually thousands of discarded flags are dropped off at the Del Haven chapter. All are properly retired and their ashes buried by the chapter headquarters flagpole.
As part of the ceremony, three winning essays were read by their young authors. First place winner was Emily DeLong. Second place went to Julia Hinker. Third place went to Ella Souder.
Vietnam-era armament and army truck were brought to the ceremony from the Forgotten Heroes Museum at Cape May County Airport by Tom Collins, founder.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
