Local business owner, Paul Ripa, from Rippys Big Reef, donates Paul Harvey's commissioned painting to Navy 
by: Paul Ripa

Paul Ripa, owner and president of Rippy's "Big" Reef sub shop, deli and sportfishing adventures, had a dream that came true one January morning when a painting depicting the Navy's sacrifice as a flag covered coffin laying in the bottom of the ocean was donated and unveiled during the commissioning of the USS Gridley. Paul Harvey painted the masterpiece and Paul Ripa donated it to the navy. The painting message is a simple, yet powerful one "This Hallowed Ground, 1000 Fathoms Down. This plot of ground is hereby claimed in eternity for our God Blessed Country, the United States of American, claimed with Navy Love, secured with Navy Bravery, paid with Navy Blood." Paul's speech during the ceremony went something like this...

"Ladies and Gentleman,
What a grand occasion, the commissioning of the USS Gridley DDG 101.The 101, a ship that received top score in Navy sea-trials. That means the Gridley is one fine ship, with one fine skipper, and a crackerjack crew. The Navy honors their Sailors with the Gridley, because they honor the Navy and our Nation! Well done Sailors!
It is appropriate tonight that I speak of Americas heroes..I will speak of the Navy's own.
For years I have been working on a WW 2 novel, of the raging ship against ship battles in the Pacific, and the following burials at sea, so sad yet so majestic, for it was the way of sailors for centuries.
One morning, I awoke with a vision. My eyes glissened as I contemplated, then sketched it.
I wrote to my dear friend of my dream and of my intentions. His response welded together my determination to do two things. Get Guy Harvey to bring my dream to life. And as a tribute, gift it to the US Navy.
The letter was written by a man I am proud to call my friend. To describe him .I borrow from Col Jeff Cooper, and the title from his book, for my hero reminds me of another time, when a man’s worth was judged because he could ride a horse, shoot straight, and he told the truth. But what truly defines him, is that he is an unwavering American Patriot.
He joined the Navy at 17 yrs old. A gunner,50 cal antiaircraft and 5 inch turret gun. The US Airforce was expanding rapidly, needed men, he joined up. Stationed on Guam and Tinian, a gunner on the souped up B29 bombers, the B50's.In 58 he joined the space program. Retired in 93.He is like all of us guys, used to hang out, shoot pool, have a few beers with his buddies, Alan Sheppard, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Alldrin, Mike Collins, all the astronauts, and a hero named Rick Roberts. Surrounded by great American heroes all, yet he told me "Some of the finest men I have ever known were those I served under while in the Navy."
He is my friend, a true unsung American hero. His name is Ted Reese. He is here with us, with his wife Brenda, daughter Carla and Carla’s husband Bruce. Better men they do not make.
His letter touches me deeply, as I know it will all of you. In his simplicity of prose, and heartfelt emotion, Tedd brings to a pinpoint the essence of the tribute, In a way that I, whose body has never been graced to wear the uniform of a United States Sailor. Soldier, Airmen or Marine, can only contemplate.
Being a former sailor myself, this touches me deeply. I have walked among the graves in Hawaii, hundreds of acres of white crosses; endless rows of crosses  marking the graves of our gallant young lads who died in the Pacific battles of WW11 and other places as well. And it often came to me that those young lads who were buried at sea have no markers on their graves, no place for families to go and say, "here lies my son, or my brother, or my sweetheart; or for later generations to say, "There lies my old grandfather, or uncle who died in the war". In fact, there is no way to even know where they died, let alone where they were buried. This because most of the burials took place days, or even weeks after the battles they died in were over, and from a ship that moved far from the scene to quite water where the men could be buried in the traditional way. My friend ,Rick Roberts, now deceased, saw many of these burials at sea, and even after sixty years, he would break down and cry when talking about them. "They were gone, just slipped into the sea and vanished, and nobody will ever know where they died, or where they were buried.
Rick Roberts was drafted out of high school. Choose the Navy as choice of service along with his pals.
He and hundreds of thousands others had boot training shortened due to the urgent need for ships crews. Rick graduated third in his signal class of 102.Rank,3RD class petty officer.
At Tacoma receiving  station, Rick was assigned to the USS Newberry, APA 158,attack transport.
The Newberry loaded up the 4th Marines, and the Newberry headed for a place they had never heard of IWO JIMA. A ship load of teenage Sailors and Marines. A ship load of ammo, bravery, fear and Semper  Fi headed for trial by fire. They left Iwo Jima, with a ship load of wounded, dead, and a shipload of Victory.
The Newberry carried 18 landing craft,14 LCVP's, landing craft, vehicle, personnel. Four LCM's, heavier craft, for the trucks and tanks.
After the battle, in which 14 of 18 boats were destroyed, the Newberry steamed for Saipan, loaded with wounded. A stop was made for the Burial at Sea. At Saipan, the Newberry made repairs, took on replacement boats, food, water, fuel ammo, and the 2ND Marines. Then the Newberry steamed for Okinawa.
Rick was 20 yrs old when he was discharged. Among Rick’s family’s most prized posetions is an item that Rick would seek succore in during the frightening days and nights in the Pacific. His Navy blanket.
Rick Roberts is up there with all those other Guys. What do you say we salute them all. Way to go guys, and thanks.
The tribute is unorthodox in its expression. But then, who ever had an orthodox dream. It stands 14ftx8ft.Its "Battleship" frame was hand built by my friend Rick Tavares and his son Ricky at their shop "Marine Designs" in Hollywood. Rick started with aluminum sheet, hand formed the sections, meticulously fitted it to the tribute, then assembled it using 656 rivets!
I call our Hero, America's Sailor, but as we have seen, those killed from all of Americas arms were buried at sea, and as such, whether Sailor, Soldier, Airmen or Marine, it is theirs. The Navy will care for it, but it belongs to them. They paid for it.
Although the funerals took place along the rail, the men rest below. Their arrangement of flowers, the perpetual living gems of the Oceans. And they are embraced in the Grandest, everlasting blossom on God's Great Earth, Old Glory.
Someone who saw the tribute and did not understand said, "Paul, the flag does not go, and the words..." I enlightened them by answering" How can that, that is impossible to remove, that can never ever be taken away, not go?"
The flag is there. They are the flag. And they are still down there. Each a shining, stars and striped monument to their bravery, and to our Nation. And one does not have to be 
among the initiated to know that every word on the tribute is unequibicable truth.
I dream that the Navy will display the tribute in a place of honor of their choosing. And that all who see it will find something of wonder, contemplation, pride and thanks.
And perhaps one day, a young family will come to visit, a mom, a dad, a child, and perhaps a great grandmother who insisted on going along. And as the family comes upon the tribute, the child is rapt with wonder. What does it mean Grandma, what does it mean? Hush child, hush. Hush child. And then I dream of a young voice, speaking out sturdy, and proud and brave, and with the "Will of America" billowing in their breast. Mommy and Daddy and Grandma, I'm gonna be a Sailor in The United States Navy!

Ladies and Gentleman, this Hallowed Ground-One Thousand Fathoms Down

                                                              Paul Ripa"

You can get in touch with Paul by phone at 305-651-3116 or visit him as his Sub Shop located at 16775 N.E. 167th Street in North Miami Beach or via e-mail at rippysbigreef@bellsouth.net.