Police Chief's Fallen Son Honored at Flag Day Ceremony

Northport Police Chief Ric Bruckenthal and his wife Pat were moved as local officials honored their fallen son, Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Bruckenthal, Friday at the 3rd annual Northport Rotary Flag Day ceremony. 

"We all realize at one point that freedom is not free, and Nate Bruckenthal paid the price for us," Mayor George Doll said, standing on the steps of Village Hall. "We memorialize people like him because long after we're gone and people don't even remember our names, they will remember Nate Bruckenthal."

Bruckenthal, 24, was killed by a suicide bomber on April 24, 2004 while on patrol conducting maritime intercept operations at the Khawr Al Amay Oil Terminal off the coast of Iraq. Killed alongside him were U.S. Navy Sailors Michael Pernaseslli and Christopher Watts.

Bruckenthal was the first Coast Guardsman to be killed in action since the Vietnam War and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and his second Combat Action Award. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

He has been memorialized in many ways in the years since his death. A memorial dedicated to him is located in front of the Northport Fire Department; U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary named a patrol boat "Bruckenthal," and Coast Guard Station Eaton's Neck named its canine mascot, a black Labrador, Nate. Most recently, the staff barracks at the U.S. Coast Guard training facility in Cape May, N.J. were named after him.

The Northport Rotary's Stars and Stripes program raises money for local veterans through the sponsorship of flags displayed around the village. The flags wil remain up until the end of July.