June 19, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 23 On Saturday, June 8, more than 1,000 local residents turned out to pay tribute to Staff Sergeant Eric Christian, a former Ramsey resident who was killed in Afghanistan last month. The crowd lined Main Street for a parade and then attended a memorial service at Veterans Park. The procession included the Volunteer Fire Department, Ramsey Rescue, Boy Scout Troop 31, Ramsey Police, the Mahwah and North Jersey Marine Moms, Patriot Guard Riders (motorcyclists), Marine Corps League, fellow Marines, and the New Jersey State Police Pipe Band. The service was coordinated by resident Brian Behrman and was attended by Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan, VFW 682 Commander Anthony Bailey, Mayor Christopher Botta, Col. Ian Wallace, Ret. Capt. Ben Cascio who made a presentation to Eric’s family, the families of Eric A borough takes time to say ‘thank you’ Christian and David Sonka, also killed on May 4. Sgt. John Rigg led the moving memorial service, at which Christian’s brother, Phil, spoke on behalf of the family. Mayor Botta provided an address, in which he called Christian a true American hero. Botta said, “I ask you, especially the young people of our community, to remember the ultimate sacrifice that Eric Christian has made to protect you and to keep alive the American dream and your American way of life. When you are standings on the ball field today or the next day, when you run on the high school track or football field, when you walk past this park, take a moment and look up and say thank you.” The service included a state police helicopter flyover. (Photos courtesy of Mee Lon Yee and Villadom TIMES.)