By Sandra Zunino
The last burger has been eaten, the last firework – a smoldering ember. Independence Day 2010 is now just a memory, but what a weekend! With the 4th of July falling conveniently on a Sunday coupled with amicable weather, this year’s celebration was destined to be as success.
While backyard gatherings, barbeques and boating parties peppered the weekend, the festivities kicked off Friday night at Kent Narrows where the epicenter of the celebration took place at the Chesapeake Exploration Center. Every year for the past five years, the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners recognize those serving our nation and this year would be no exception.
During the final glow of sunset, Count Commissioners, addressing a record number of spectators for the event, read names submitted by Queen Anne County residents of soldiers currently serving in the armed forces just before the US Naval Academy Band began their performance.
Finally, fireworks exploded in the night’s sky delighting observers on both the land and waters of The Narrows – a fitting tribute not only to our “independence” but also to service men and women who literally risk their lives to defend and preserve ideals and a way of life Americans hold most dear.
As sulfur smoke of sparklers wafts away and the memory of last weekend fades, it is important to keep in mind that the bravery and commitment of soldiers such as these ensure this country’s independence every day. May God bless them all and continue to bless America.
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Soldiers honored at the July 2nd Independence Day Celebration
United States Army E6, Jeffery La’Ron Pollard, is serving his second deployment in Iraq. He is a graduate of Queen Anne’s County High School and is the son of Ollie Mae Pollard and the late Henry C. Pollard, Sr.
Air Force Master Sgt Zak Petrovic, of Chester, is serving on active duty and is currently deployed to Al Udeid, Qatar in the Middle East.
Navy Signalman 3rd Class David Edward Kline Jr., is stationed on a destroyer in Japan, and will remain there for the next three years. He is a graduate of Kent Island High School class of 2006.
US Navy, Senior Chief Arthur T. Bordley Jr., of Centreville is a 1985 graduate of Queen Anne’s County High School. He has served 4 tours in Iraq and is currently serving on an aircraft carrier in Afganistan. All told he has been serving our nation for 23 years.
Navy LT David Melson, SJA of Stevensville, is currently serving in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa. He graduated from St. Peter & Paul in 1998.
Drill Sergeant Jessica Lynn Akers of Grasonville, has served in Iraq, trained soldiers in South Carolina and is now in Officer Training.
Queenstown resident PFC Stanley W. Ostrowski, III is a Combat Engineer deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan since July 2009. He is a graduate of QACHS.
United States Marine Corp Colonel Allen Dewayne Johnson Sr., of Sudlersville, recently returned from tours in both Afganistan and Iraq, and may be deployed yet again. He is currently assigned to Camp Lejuene, South Carolina and is in the process of earning the rank of Brigadier General.
Sgt. Michael Robert Sandford, with the US Army Medical Corp, is currently serving in Iraq with the 124th company C. Sgt. Sandford is from Sudlersville and is the son of Brenda & Bob Sandford.
United States Army Private First Class Tyler Jon Plummer is stationed in Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, South Korea. PFC Plummer is from Centreville and is the son of Jeff and Sherry Plummer.
CW4 Donald R. Engle of the Army Reserves – B Co, 5-159 Aviation is serving his 2nd tour in Iraq and he has also had 1 tour in Kuwait. He is from Centreville and is the son of Mary Engle.
Specialist. Brendon J. Bond of the 27th Engineer Battalion Airborne Corps is deployed to Afghanistan. He is the son of Kim Bond of Sudlersville.
US Army Cpl. Donald Ditty is now serving in Germany. He is a graduate of Kent Island High School, class of 2009.
US Navy Lt. Commander Nat Thompson, of Centreville, son of Robert and Stephanie Thompson, is currently is based in Virginia and has served overseas.
U.S. Army Specialist Michael James Moore, of Chester, is currently serving in Iraq.
U. S. Army Sgt. Walter Washington, of Ewingtown, is stationed in Germany, with the 69th Transit Company. He is the son of Norean Wilson and grandson of Nora Wright.
Queenstown resident Bryan Cox is serving with the U.S. Coast Guard in San Juan, Puerto Rico aboard the 110-foot patrol boat, The Chincoteague. He is the son of Jim and Laura Cox of Queenstown.
Senior Airmen Joshua Webb, of Chester, is serving in Iraq with the U.S. Air Force. He is the son of Alice and Kevin Webb of Chester, and was a 2006 graduate of QACHS. When not deployed, Joshua Webb is a volunteer firefighter with Grasonville Volunteer Fire Department.
Private First Class Robert Mansfield and is stationed in Camp Casey Korea.