On Sunday, Nov. 4, a handful of citizens gathered near Calvert Marina for a brief memorial service at the On Watch statue. The event was to remember all military veterans past and present, with a particular emphasis on those who trained for service in Solomons during World War II. The ceremony was presided over by Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Rowland.
From 1942 to 1945, the U.S. Naval Amphibious Training Base, the first ever of its kind, was located in Solomons. The bronze statue, which was unveiled in August of 2007, overlooks Solomons Harbor and is dedicated to the thousands of sailors, soldiers and marines who trained at the facility known as “the Cradle of Invasion.”
“It [the facility] made an impact around the world,” said guest speaker Eric Zabiegalski of Lusby, who told the audience his great uncle trained at the base. “Deeds past and present should not be forgotten.” Zabiegalski noted that the statue is a monument to “all Americans who stood silent watch.”
Another speaker, Calvert County Commissioner Pat Nutter [R] spoke about how much he misses seeing many of the old veterans he encountered when he first became a member of the American Legion. He also remembered his late, younger brother, who was wounded in Viet Nam.
“As you get older you tend to want to remember the past,” said Nutter.
In addition to the speakers, an invocation was offered by Father Mike Wilson of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Solomons, the colors were presented by the Patuxent River Naval Air Station Honor Guard and the Star-Spangled Banner was sung by Patuxent Voices.
A reception was held at Calvert Marine Museum following the ceremony, which oc
