By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Former U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Fountas became emotional minutes after he was draped around the shoulders with a “Quilt of Valor” that symbolically comforted him from the horrors of war.
“I lost someone,” he began, pausing to choke back tears while addressing the crowd at Sea Isle City’s Veterans Day ceremony Thursday morning.
Fountas disclosed that another former Marine who was a close friend of his had committed suicide after becoming troubled over the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan last August to end the 20-year war.
Adding to the tragedy was that his friend had left behind his pregnant wife.
“His child’s never going to know how big a hero his father was,” Fountas said of the unborn baby.
The crowd of about 200 people grew silent as Fountas spoke. It was a particularly poignant moment during a Veterans Day ceremony that not only honored all of the men and women who have served in the U.S. military, but also touched upon the growing crisis of veterans committing suicide while struggling to adjust to civilian life.
In keynote marks, Mayor Leonard Desiderio described how so many veterans have faced an array of challenges and obstacles, including injuries suffered in battle, homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidal thoughts.
“In fact, it is reported that approximately 20 veterans commit suicide every day in the United States – and that is a frightening number that must be addressed,” Desiderio told the crowd.
“So, on this Veterans Day, I suggest that we all ask ourselves, ‘What more can we do for our veterans?’” he continued.
Desiderio said one good place to start is by supporting local VFWs, VFW auxiliaries and other organizations that help with veterans, such as the Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled American Veterans.
“Next, we can remember and honor our nation’s veterans not only on Veterans Day, but every day of the year. And, perhaps most importantly, we can show our veterans the respect and gratitude they deserve,” Desiderio added.
One of those veterans is Michael Fountas, a former Sea Isle City police officer. Fountas, who served in the Marines from 2014 to 2020 and was honorably discharged, wore his dress blue uniform for the Veterans Day ceremony at Sea Isle’s Veterans Park.
To his surprise, Fountas was honored during the ceremony by the Quilts of Valor Foundation, an organization that makes hand-stitched quilts that are given to veterans who have been “touched by war.”
“For us, quilts equal healing,” explained Debbie Conrad, a representative of the South Jersey Quilts of Valor Foundation.
Since its inception in 2003, the Quilts of Valor Foundation has awarded more than 2,800 quilts to veterans, Conrad said. Fountas became the latest veteran who was wrapped in a Quilt of Valor. Conrad and Desiderio draped the quilt around Fountas’ shoulders while they stood on the colonnaded monument at Veterans Park.
Addressing the crowd, Fountas thanked all of the veterans who served before him for “paving the way for men like me to answer the call.”
The 32-year-old Fountas now works as a police officer in Linwood. He began his law enforcement career in 2010 with the Sea Isle Police Department, a path that eventually led to him joining the Marines in 2014. His duties in the Marines included serving in Afghanistan in the global war against terrorism.
Referring to the veterans seated in the crowd, Fountas said his decision to become a Marine and proudly wear the uniform was “a direct reflection of everyone here.”
Fountas then turned his attention toward the mental health challenges affecting so many veterans – including the alarming rate of suicides. It was then that he spoke of his friend.
Out of respect for the family, Fountas did not reveal his friend’s name. Fountas said they had served together in the Marines and had lived near each other – Fountas in Hammonton and his friend in Williamstown.
“It hurts just knowing I was 15 minutes from his house,” Fountas said of his friend’s suicide.
Patti Lloyd, president of the VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary in Sea Isle, said Post 1963 and the Auxiliary offer a series of community outreach programs and services to help local veterans in need.
The Post 1963 Auxiliary is the largest auxiliary in New Jersey, with 324 members. In remarks during the Veterans Day ceremony, Lloyd emphasized that the Post 1963 Auxiliary is ready to help any veteran who needs assistance or may be facing a personal crisis.
“What does the number 324 mean? It means 324 pairs of hands extended to our veterans,” she said, referring to Post 1963 Auxiliary’s membership.
In Cape May County, an average of one out of every nine residents is a military veteran. It is the highest percentage of veterans in New Jersey, according to Mark Lloyd, who is Patti Lloyd’s husband and also the commander of VFW Post 1963.
Mark Lloyd said most people may not know that many of the local police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other first responders in their community began their careers serving in the military.
“We don’t wear our hearts on our sleeves or insist on being recognized,” Lloyd, who served in Vietnam, said of the local veterans.
Although veterans may not be seeking special recognition now for having served in the military, they carried out their duty – no matter where they were deployed, he said.
“But wherever we were sent, we served proudly, because that’s what we chose to do – to serve our country,” Lloyd said.
In addition to the speeches and the presentation of the Quilt of Valor, the Veterans Day ceremony included songs, prayers, the ceremonial laying of wreaths and the playing of patriotic music by the Ocean City High School Marching Band.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The story has been corrected to say that Michael Fountas was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps.
