The sacrifices of about a dozen South Enders who gave their lives in the name of freedom were honored on Monday morning at Bayview Cemetery.

Keynote speaker and former Marine Bob Gabelein read brief descriptions of the men who perished on the European and Pacific theaters in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War during a 30-minute ceremony attended by about 250 people, organizers said. He also recognized veterans from the community.

During his opening remarks, Gabelein said that when someone joins the military, they essentially write a blank check for an amount of “up to and including their life.”

“What I’d like to do is talk about some of those people who cashed in on that from the island,” Gabelein said.

There was bravery, tragedy and mystery in the back stories of the men, whose names are engraved on plaques at Langley Middle School and Maxwelton Beach Park. Their military services were researched and compiled by South Whidbey students, Rachel Kizer and Lloyd Carter.

Lloyd Francis was captured at the beginning of World War II and survived a 69-mile forced march from Bataan, Philippines to a prison camp. It later became known as the Bataan Death March after 10,000 people died. Francis was later put aboard a ship and sent off to another prison camp, but it was sunk by a Navy submarine that was unaware prisoners aboard.

Another man, Raphael Mylly, left school before graduation to join the Army Air Corps. He was shot down over Italy. Another pilot, Robert Fisk, was a cargo plane pilot who transported supplies. His plane disappeared on a flight and was never found.

The ceremony concluded with a three-gun salute by members of the South Whidbey Marines and the playing of “Taps.”

Austin Carter, a 2003 graduate of South Whidbey High School and Marine veteran, was glad to see the ceremony recognized fallen servicemen from the community. It was a different direction from previous years, where keynote speakers have typically shared their personal experiences while also speaking broadly about the meaning of Memorial Day.

Brad Jaeger, a Freeland resident, said it’s a small community and that he could recognize some of the names on the plaques. Jaeger brought his son, Taylor, to experience a ceremony of Monday morning’s magnitude.

“I wanted to bring my son out here so he can see it’s more than what you see on TV, to see what’s really at stake and the sacrifices people make,” Jaeger said.

There were many veterans in the crowd, as well as public officials and families. Marine veterans Dave Moulton and Tom Lorenson were among them. They came to honor their friends who died in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

“It’s just a very important day in my life, Memorial Day, to thank all the people that have sacrificed their life for us to have this fabulous life,” Lorenson said.

Lorenson, who served in the Marines from 1953-57, said he is a bit troubled by the widespread divisiveness in the country. But, Moulton noted there was unity at Monday morning’s ceremony and was specifically encouraged by the number of familiar faces who had attended previous Memorial Day ceremonies.

“(They’re) the backbone of the island,” Moulton said.

Navy veteran Terry Minton and Marine veteran Tom Flood were there with similar purposes.

“You look at the flag and you look at the guys that didn’t make it,” Flood said. “We owe them everything. Unfortunately, I think a lot of people don’t realize that. I’ve lost some friends.”

The pair agreed that the country owes the fallen servicemen a debt of gratitude.

“When people sacrifice and offer themselves and sometimes their lives for the betterment of their community, the country, I think we can all stop and say ‘thank you,’ ” Flood said. “That’s really what it’s about.”

Curtis Larsen, who was a helicopter crew chief of a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter in Vietnam and went on to have a 20-year career in the Marines, believes it not should be forgotten that is freedom isn’t free.

“We’re free because of the brave,” he said.