JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Sen. Jim Mathias sponsors a flag in honor of his father-in-law Edward O. Petry, a career U.S. Army man, during the inaugural Flags for Heroes display at the Worcester County Veteran’s Memorial in Ocean Pines.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Del. Mary Beth Carozza sponsors a flag on behalf of Samuel Bowen during the inaugural Flags for Heroes display at the Worcester County Veteran’s Memorial in Ocean Pines. Bowen was reportedly was the 1,000th member of the U.S. Military to die in battle after the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor
(May 24, 2018) Looking around the Worcester County countryside, it’s obvious that this is an election year with several local races of consequence and thousands of colorful political signs staked into the earth.
Not the least of these contests is the District 38 State Senate race featuring incumbent Sen. Jim Mathias, a Democrat, and challenger Delegate Mary Beth Carozza, a Republican.
However, for at least the next week, also dotting the landscape are 204 American Flags at the Worcester County Veteran’s Memorial in Ocean Pines, each honoring a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, two of whom are important to Mathias and Carozza.
Both were present during a dedication ceremony for Flags for Heroes on Saturday, and each afterward talked about the flag they had sponsored and why those former soldiers were so important to them.
“My Family and I wanted to sponsor a flag for Samuel Bowen,” Carozza said. “Samuel Bowen served in Iraq and was killed in Iraq. He was a Stephen Decatur graduate in 1983.”
Bowen was killed on July 7, 2004 by a rocket-propelled grenade, according to the Army Times newspaper. He reportedly was the 1,000th member of the U.S. Military to die in battle after the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
Carozza said his mother, Elsie Bowen, was involved in planning for the veteran’s memorial and had been honored as a Gold Star Mother when she died in 2012. She was 67.
“I wanted to keep Samuel Bowen’s service alive, especially for our children and our students,” Carozza said.
Fifth grade students in Worcester, Carozza noted, each year take a field trip to the veteran’s memorial.
“We have the opportunity to walk them around the memorial [and] show them the different service flags and the pavers, and when we go to the section with the army, what I like to do is personalize it and localize it for the students, so I first ask them if they can find Samuel Bowen’s paver,” Carozza said.
The small, red-orange brick square reads: “SAMUEL BOWEN, PFC U.S. ARMY, 1,000 CASUALTY, IRAQI FREEDOM.”
“And then I asked them, ‘Have you ever been to Walmart on Route 50?’ And they’ll raise their hand and I’ll say, ‘Do any of you know the name of the road in front of Walmart?’” Carozza said.
The road, of course, is named Samuel Bowen Boulevard.
“I say [to the students], ‘You have the freedom to shop and to play and to go to school and to pray and to go to work because of individuals like Samuel Bowen, who sacrificed his life for our country,” Carozza said. “I want them to make the connection with their freedom, and for someone locally who served and ended up making the ultimate sacrifice.”
Bowen’s flag is number J-9 in the Flags for Heroes display.
“I thought today was very special,” Carozza said. “I want to give credit to the members of the Worcester Veteran’s Memorial, to the Rotary, to all the sponsors, because … they doubled their goal. There are over 200 flags here, and this certainly shows the support and the commitment to having our American heroes honored.”
Mathias chose to sponsor a flag on behalf of Edward O. Petry, the father of his late wife, Kathleen Mathias, who died of cancer in 2011.
He said Petry was a career U.S. Army man, who served in Korea and Vietnam. His flag is numbered I-15.
“We’re very fortunate that he’s still with us today, and we’re able to stand here today and talk, living our freedom [because] of those who served,” Mathias said. “They’re an inspiration … and clearly strengthened the foundation for those who have yet to serve.”
Mathias described Petry, now in his mid-80s, as “a great guy, a very quiet gentleman.”
“He’s a patriot and he’s always worked hard and provided for his family,” he said. “He stands in love and dedication to this country to this very day.”
Mathias added his son, Trevor, is an Eagle Scout and was inspired by the service of Petry.
“They say behind every Eagle Scout is a mother’s foot in their behind, so Mr. Petry certainly inspired his daughter to keep all of us on track. And she shepherded all of us – God bless you, Kathy,” Mathias said. “And we thank Ed for his service to our country, being a great father, and being a great inspiration for all who are out there in the field today.”
Mathias, the former mayor of Ocean City, served on the Ocean City Police Commission for six years and is a lifetime member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company.
“We thank the men and women that keep us safe and provide for our freedom, to allow us to be able to exchange ideas freely, and know that when we participate in a community we do it with protection, with freedom, and most importantly the dedication of those men and women that have given their lives to keep us free and keep us safe,” he said.
“As you hear ‘never forget,’ this is yet another example of us never forgetting and lifting up in gratitude for their service,” Mathias added.