George Salaris

Witnessed Flag Raising On Iwo Jima

George Salaris, 84, of Bartow, Fla., formerly a longtime resident of Newtown, died March 29 after a brief illness. Mr Salaris was born in Sabraton, W.Va.

After graduating from Morgantown High School in 1940, he went to work as a chemist for Bethlehem Steel in Sparrows Point, Md. In July 1942 he enlisted in the US Marine Corps where he served honorably during World War II, including Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and most notably, Iwo Jima. After the war, he was assigned to the Navy Special Devices Center, in Port Washington, N.Y. There he met his wife Grace and the couple was married in 1948.

Mr Salaris served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the Marine Corps in 1965 as a sergeant major. Throughout his long and distinguished military career, Mr Salaris was particularly proud of several events: witness to the flag raising on Iwo Jima; witness to the atomic weapons testing in Nevada; and serving as the Sergeant of the Guard for President Truman on the Battleship Missouri. On the 20th anniversary of Iwo Jima, Mr Salaris proudly appeared on the Today Show as the Marine Corps’ representative.

In 1965, the Salaris family took up residence in Newtown and Mr Salaris went to work for Connecticut DMV. Following 22 years of service with the DMV, he retired and moved to Bartow, Fla. He was a member of American Legion Post #3 and attended St Thomas Catholic Church in Bartow.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 58 years, Grace DeVito Salaris; a son, Michael Salaris and his wife, Beth, of Sandy Hook; a daughter, Christina Salaris of Quinton, Va.; three grandchildren, Catherine, George (Jeremy), and Anthony Salaris of Sandy Hook; a brother, Steve Salaris; and sister, Ann Newmon of Baltimore, Md.; and a multitude of close and wonderful relatives and friends.

Graveside services and interment will be held at the Newtown Village Cemetery on Saturday, April 15, at 3 pm. Friends are invited.

The Newtown Bee        April 24, 2006