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Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino (STORY/PHOTOS: CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter Mary K. Miraglia)
Calling the ceremony a solemn occasion, Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino recalled that 1,800 Marines were stationed in Lebanon when two truck bombs targeted barracks of Americans and French who were part of a multi-national peace-keeping force.
The death toll of 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers, and 58 French paratroopers included “the largest loss to the Marine Corps since Iwo Jima,” Saudino said.
Marine and law enforcement color guards presented flags and remained outside a hastily-erected tent for most or all of the ceremony outside the county courthouse.
“Here lie men who loved America because their ancestors helped generations ago in her founding — officers and men, black and white, rich men and poor together, Protestants and Catholics, Jews and Christians,” Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser said. “There are no quotas, how many are admitted or allowed. It is the highest and purest democracy.”
“The only thing left for us to do for these heros is to commemorate them, to learn a lesson from them, and pray for them,” Father Abuma Aziz added.
“Thank God the United States is leading the war against terrorism and extremism,” Aziz said. “They are working hard to establish peace all over the world. We should pray to the Lord to establish peace.”
Michael B. Ryan was master of ceremonies for the event, sponsored by the International Christian Union — a non-profit group that promotes “Christian solidarity to advance the causes of democracy, human rights, and religious freedom,” particularly in the Middle East. It was co-sponsored by the Legislative District 39 County Republican Committee.
Attendees included Demarest Mayor Raymond Cywinski, county Parks Director Ronald Kistler; Commissioner Richard Dahl (representing County Executive Kathleen Donovan); Andrew Lighthouse (representing Congressman Scott Garrett), and Corporals Bill Harris and Michael Schairrapone, representing various veterans’ organizations.
STORY/PHOTOS: CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter Mary K. Miraglia
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