'He was my big brother': Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony honors the fallen

During the Memorial Day ceremony, the county honored U.S. Army Cpl. Owen Niel Garnet, who died in Vietnam in 1968. Garnet was uncle to county judge Melissa Distler.

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Thirty-six east, row nine: That is where the name of Julia Moore's brother, U.S. Army Cpl. Owen Niel Garnet, lies on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

It's been 56 years since Garnet died during the Vietnam War, but Moore said she never imagined he wouldn't come back from war.

"I always loved him and knew that he didn't even if he didn't show it, he loved me and looked out for me," she said. "He was my big brother."

Garnet was honored for his sacrifice at the Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony on May 27. Moore and her daughter Flagler County Court Judge Melissa Distler — the niece Garnet never got a chance to meet — spoke in Garnet's honor during the ceremony.

Moore said her brother joined the Army alongside his friend who had been drafted. She said she remembered how Garnet loved to play baseball and played catcher in little league and in high school. To this day, her favorite position is catcher, she said. 

Moore said she wishes Garnet were still alive and able to meet his niece and Moore's grandchildren. She still misses him, she said.

"Our dad, who was a World War II veteran, grieved in silence," Moore said. "I don't know that our mother ever recovered."

Flagler County Veterans Service Officer David Lydon said Garnet was assigned to the second battalion, 47th mechanized infantry. At just 20 years old, Garnet was killed in Bien Hoa, Vietnam on Jan. 31, 1968.

"His friends still miss him, especially on Memorial Day," Lydon said. "Scholarships have been awarded in his name."

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Mark Thieme, executive director of the Florida State Guard, was the county's guest speaker for the ceremony. During his service, Thieme earned the military honors the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, among other honors, according to a press release from Flagler County.

Melanie DeMartino sang the national anthem and local Boy and Girls Scout Troops 400 and 2314 lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to open the ceremony. 

Veteran Vince Cautero closed the ceremony with a rendition of "God Bless the USA."

 

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