(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Jim Crawford and Robert Sinnett lay a wreath at the Gold Star Families monument at Gold Star Park in Marietta on Sunday during the Honor and Remembrance Gold Star Ceremony held there.

Fallen service members and their families were honored Sunday during an Honor and Remembrance Gold Star Ceremony at Gold Star Park in Marietta.

Around 50 people, including many area veterans, gathered at the park to remember the service of those who had given their lives in the service of this country as well as the families still here carrying their memories.

The scheduled keynote speaker, Mary Tallouzi, who is a Gold Star Mother, was unable to attend and Jacob Morotsky, who spoke on behalf of Wounded Warriors, changed his plans and came to Marietta at the last minute to participate, organizers said.

Morotsky, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and who was the son of a veteran who died by suicide, talked about all of the things soldiers in battle see and do. He said it wasn’t the time to get into specifics, but talked about how all of those things stay with soldiers who have served and how it can impact them and their families.

“We saw things we were never meant to see,” he said. “Nobody trained me when I got home to put it down. (As he was leaving Iraq to come home) nobody told me there was a pile of chains that I could leave there. I brought it all home with me.”

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Jacob Morotsky, a US Army veteran who spoke on behalf of Wounded Warriors, addressed those gathered Sunday at Gold Star Park in Marietta during an Honor and Remembrance Gold Star Ceremony.

Returning soldiers are constantly “riding on an edge, an edge so sharp you are cutting everyone around you,” he said.

Morotsky said it is easy to see someone with a physical wound and be able to support them.

“When you can’t see the wound, you don’t know that something is wrong,” he said. “On the day I got out of the military, everything came flooding back.

“There is a loss of the mission. I was so lost and confused. Those wounds just got heavier and heavier.”

He talked about how many veterans feel like they are alone, but there are many veterans organizations out there now who can help.

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Around 50 people, including many area veterans, gathered at Gold Star Park in Marietta Sunday to remember the service of those who had given their lives in the service of this country as well as the families they left behind during an Honor and Remembrance Gold Star Ceremony held there.

“It was the brotherhood and sisterhood that I found so fast,” he said of other veterans he came to know around him.

He talked about the veterans of all the wars this country has fought in over the last century and how many became lost through self isolation, alcohol abuse and more. Now, veterans are gathering together more often and leaning on each other for support.

“Our veterans are now using words like `I love you,’ `I got you,’ and we are learning to hug,” Morotsky said. “We are learning to do life together.”

For the first time in the history of this country and its military, there is a veteran force that is stronger than any that has been seen before.

“The veteran population in the United States is now big enough and strong enough to be another branch of the U.S. Army,” Morotsky said. “The veteran population of the U.S. is the reason the home front cannot be invaded.

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Medal of Honor recipient US Army Specialist Kenneth David, a Vietnam War veteran, spoke about his service and those he served with who gave their all during the Honor and Remembrance Gold Star Ceremony held Sunday at Gold Star Park in Marietta.

“Our veterans stand as one. We stand united. We do life together. You are not alone. There are so many that have your back.”

Medal of Honor recipient US Army Specialist Kenneth David, a Vietnam War veteran, who in May 1970 took decisive action when his platoon was attacked by 300 enemy fighters and drew fire to protect the others so they could find cover and survive. After the war, he got involved with the Disabled American Veterans. He received the Medal of Honor from President Joe Biden.

In addressing Gold Star Families, David said “your loved ones gave the ultimate sacrifice to our nation and we will never forget their bravery or your enduring strength.”

He talked about growing up with a father who was a World War II veteran and many of those values were passed on to him. Many of the foundations of his military service he had in the Boy Scouts.

“I have tried to live by the motto of the Boy Scouts all my life, be prepared,” David said.

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Medal of Honor recipient US Army Specialist Kenneth David, a Vietnam War veteran, spoke with some of those who came out to the Honor and Remembrance Gold Star Ceremony held at Gold Star Park in Marietta.

On that night in Vietnam, there were 18 of them and they thought they were dead when the enemy began attacking.

“We fought back,” David said. “Fourteen of my brothers received the Purple Heart for their wounds and seven were killed.

“I honor my seven foxhole buddies who gave their all that night and I have lived by the Army values of life, loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage which all the veterans do on a volunteer basis.”

He thanked those he served with that night and took the time to read each of their names, all aged 20-25 and all were from a variety of backgrounds, but they all “bled red.”

“They will always be my brothers,” David said.

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) The Williamstown High School Strings provided music Sunday at Gold Star Park in Marietta as part of the Honor and Remembrance Gold Star Ceremony held there Sunday.

He spoke of memorials in his hometown and other communities where they take the time to remember the veterans who were not able to come home.

After his service, he dedicated himself to helping veterans and their families get the benefits that were earned so they would not have the struggles he went through to get his.

“You don’t need a medal to be a hero, you just need a heart willing to help,” David said.