DEL HAVEN – At its ninth annual flag burning ceremony Sunday Oct. 11, Disabled Veterans of America Chapter 44 honored U.S.Army Specialist Michael Scusa who was killed serving Afghanistan.
Scusa, 22, lived in Villas for six years and graduated from Lower Cape May Regional High School. He was among eight U.S. troops slain Oct. 3 in the mountainous, war-torn land when well-armed Taliban insurgents attacked two remote outposts in Nuristan province near the border of Pakistan.
The flag burning ceremony is held to properly dispose of tattered or damaged flags.
Commander Myles J. Barrett, a U.S. Coast Guard chaplain, said as Michael grew in his hometown, he learned how to give.
“So his life wasn’t taken, his life was given as a gift,” he said.
Barrett said Scusa’s memorial service would be held in Colorado where his wife, while holding their young son, Conner Alan, would receive a flag from the President of the United States and a grateful nation.
Boy Scout Tyler Sole of Troop 73, West Cape May, said Scusa was a freshman at the regional high school when 9.11 occurred.
“As he witnessed our country under attack, an ordinary boy made the extraordinary decision that he would one day answer the call to defend freedom at home and abroad, no matter what the price,” he said.
Sole said from that point on, Scusa had one vision, to become a soldier. Scusa began to train himself for the military including running down local streets in the heat of summer wearing a backpack loaded with bricks to make himself stronger and ready for what would come.
Scusa joined the Army and did his first tour of duty in Iraq. He visited his high school on his return, said Sole.
Scusa married his wife a little over two years ago and had a son who they named after a friend who died in the military. Scusa died two days before his 23rd birthday.
A moment of silence was held followed by a bugler playing “Taps.”
U.S Rep. Frank LoBiondo said the sacrifices being made by our men and women in uniform were enormous. He said as a member of the Armed Services Committee, he has visited Iraq and Afghanistan a number of times. He said Afghanistan “was very difficult for our men and women.”
LoBiondo asked the crowd to pray for families that have lost a loved one in the military and pray for the safe return of those serving.
Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) said he could not imagine what Scusa and his fellow soldiers felt in their last fleeting moments of life, “to know you are not going to see your children grow up.” He said it was important to take care of veterans when they come home including medical care and job assistance.
Assemblyman Nelson Albano (D-1st) said Scusa “stood for everything we are as Americans,” and lost his life defending the American Flag.
Lower Township Mayor Michael Beck said he was hoping and praying he would never have to make a speech at a memorial event for “one of our sons.”
During the flag burning ceremony, local and state officials cut a large American Flag into sections that were placed into a roaring fire in a metal barrel.
Veteran’s groups, the Knights of Columbus, police, fire and rescue squads were well represented along with scouts and county officials at the event.
DAV State Commander Marjorie Fleming said she would ever be mindful of all that veterans have done for their country and what they will do in the future.
“Freedom is not free and you paid the price,” she said.
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?