By Benjamin Rothstein

DOVER – The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 850 held a ceremony Monday in honor of Memorial Day. It was originally planned to take place in Veterans Memorial Park but was later moved to the Kent County Levy Court building due to forecasted weather.  

Levy Court chambers were packed with those coming to pay their respects to fallen service members, including several public officials like city councilmen, Levy Court members and state lawmakers. All were welcomed by emcee Dave Skocik, a Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 850 Life Member, as well as president of the Delaware Veterans Coalition. 

The keynote speaker was Lt. Col. Crystal A. Glaster, deputy commander for Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, which is located at Dover Air Force Base. 

“Memorial Day is a day to pay tribute to those who gave their lives to protect the freedom that we hold so dear. It's a day to reflect ultimate sacrifice made by our military service members who now leave behind legacies and loved ones,” said Col. Glaster in her address.  

Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations handles all Air Force mortuary matters for current and past conflicts. The Dover Air Force Base Mortuary opened in 1955. 

“I now have the distinct honor to work at an organization that is charged with providing dignity, honor and respect in the return of our fallen service members from overseas as well as providing care, service and support to their families who come to witness their return,” continued Col. Glaster.  

The ceremony also featured words from Dover Mayor Robin R. Christiansen and Chapter 850 President Joe Startt Jr. 

The event concluded with the placement of the wreaths - Delaware-themed arrangements meant to honor fallen service members - and the reading of the names of Kent County servicemen who died in Vietnam, Korea and the Middle East. Finally, musicians from the Delaware Celtic Society Pipe Band played an emotional rendition of “Amazing Grace.” 

“Someone said to me, ‘Thank you for your service,’” said Rev. Bill Downing, Chapter 850 member in his closing prayer. “And I said, 'Well, I appreciate you thanking me for my service, but Memorial Day is not the day for us to be thanked. Instead, you should say thank you to the families of those whose loved one died (so) that we might have freedom. (So) we might be able to do all the things that we love to do.'”