UPPER NEWS NOTES – 11-10

Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11 – A local veteran’s story is highlighted here, as tomorrow we honor and thank all those who have served in the armed forces.
Colonel R. J. “Rocky” Gannon, of Ocean City and South Carolina, is retired from the U.S. Air Force after 37 years of active duty. Gannon was a junior attending Ocean City High School when he enlisted in the Air Force at 17 and started training as a pilot. He became a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot shortly after his high school class had graduated.
He was a combat pilot in World War II, Korea, and the Belgian Congo. Gannon also flew 387 combat missions in Vietnam. He has 50 military awards and decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, 10 Air Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
Recently, Gannon addressed the Upper Township/Ocean City Rotary Club. The topic of his talk was “Five Events in My Life When I Have Been Inspired by the Flag.”
1. Independence Hall and Betsy Ross House – As a young child, Gannon’s mother took him to see where the first flag was made, and he recalled how he “couldn’t wait to get home” to share his experience with his family and friends.”
2. Camden, New Jersey – Gannon trained here to become a pilot. He remembered seeing a large American flag, 30 feet in length, hanging from the ceiling to the floor. “I took an oath here to defend the flag,” Gannon said.
3. Iwo Jima – The first time Gannon was stationed there, he “walked up to the top of Mt. Suribachi,” and, “in my mind, I saw our flag being raised there.” He remarked that “more Medals of Honor were given for Iwo Jima than any other place in history. There were about 26,000 casualties there.”
4. Normandy, France – Here, Gannon watched as children, with their teachers, placed flags on the graves of the American soldiers. One of the teachers told him that “each year, we come out on Memorial Day and put flags on the graves.” He was also told that the flags were taken down later, stored, and then placed on the graves the following year.
5. Wiesbaden, Germany – Gannon’s son was attending an International Boy Scout Camp where five nations of scouts camped out together – the United States, England, France, Germany, and Holland. Five large flag poles were erected for each of the nations, with flag ceremonies performed daily. Gannon said that one day as our flag was taken down, folded, and held, someone commented that our “country is a hodge-podge” of people and that “the flag is how we are all brought together.”
Gannon closed his talk by proudly stating, “I have a love affair with the flag, and I carry this little flag with me over my heart.”
Local Veterans’ Day Observances on Thurs., Nov. 11, to which the public is invited –
Ocean City – A program will take place at 11 a.m. at Veterans’ Memorial Park, 5th and Wesley Ave. For further information, call 609-525-9300.
Upper Township – The event will be held at 10 a.m. at Osprey Point on Route 9 in Seaville.
If you would like to make the public aware of events happening in your town, classroom, group, or club, please email me at laladyw@aim.com.
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