Some served in multiple branches of service, but a handful of men in their 80s and 90s on Saturday wore their Merchant Marine caps as honored guests at the dedication of a memorial in San Jacinto on National Maritime Day.

They helped unveil a bell from the SS Cape Johnson in the city's Veterans Memorial at Druding Park. Duncan Bergeron, a resident and former merchant mariner, donated the bell to honor the one in 26 mariners who died while transporting troops and cargo during war.

Barry Mulcock, acting public works director, thanked them "for your contributions to our country and our freedom."

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Gail Wesson / The Press-Enterprise

From left are Burt Burton of Menifee, Duncan Bergeron of San Jacinto and Charles Zavisch and Merle Derscheid, both of Sun City. All served in the Merchant Marine.

Councilman Jim Potts called the bell "a piece of the puzzle that needs to be here."

The park has memorials for each branch of service except the Marines. Potts said the city expects delivery of a 105-mm howitzer in July. An Army tank was the first monument dedicated on May 21, 2001.

Bergeron said the SS Cape Johnson launched in 1943 as a Merchant Marine cargo ship. The Navy commissioned it as the USS Cape Johnson in 1944 and used it until 1946 when it returned to private maritime transport. In 1963, it was scrapped and the bell became a dinner bell for an organization for the blind, where Bergeron volunteered.

A friend brought it to Bergeron last year and he persuaded the San Jacinto City Council to create a memorial.

"It makes me feel proud," said San Jacinto resident Bruce W. Thomas. His late father, William M. Thomas Jr., received a Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal for rescuing a shipmate when their ship was torpedoed in 1942.

Merchant mariners at the ceremony included Merle Derscheid, commodore of the Old Salts chapter of the Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II in Sun City.

Reach Gail Wesson at 951-763-3455 or gwesson@PE.com