Fred B. Morgan Jr., a decorated veteran and former longtime Edgartown selectman, was the featured speaker at the Sunday service at Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs on Sunday, the day after the nation’s birthday.

Mr. Morgan spoke of a career of public service, from serving in the Army and invading Normandy in 1944 to being an administrator years later at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

Mr. Morgan’s theme was patriotic duty and service to the community. He said serving the county is not necessarily easy.

He was introduced by Unity Church president Alphonse Carter, who noted that he is highly respected in the Vineyard community. “Wherever he speaks, he draws a large crowd,” Mr. Carter said.

The service of worship was conducted by the Rev. John D. Schüle, the church’s chairman of the ministerial committee.

Referring to Mr. Morgan and all those who have served the country, Mr. Schüle said in prayer: “We thank you for heroes tested in the fires of war. They heard the call and kept faith with the patriot dream. They turned from their home and dear ones. And in distant places they fought in liberating strife that government of the people, by the people, for the people, might not perish from the earth.”

It was an unusual setting for Mr. Morgan as a speaker, behind the pulpit. Usually on patriotic holidays, Mr. Morgan speaks wearing his Air Force uniform. On this occasion he wore a jacket and tie.

Mr. Morgan shared a hymnal book with Reverend Schule in singing America.

Mr. Morgan began his talk by saying he was an Island boy, born in a home in Edgartown, next door to the jail. He said his father was a fisherman and that he didn’t leave the Vineyard until 1941.

Although as a child he was afraid of heights, he went on to become a medivac soldier with the 82nd Airborne Division who parachuted into wars in Italy, France and Belgium.

He spoke of his concerns for the misfortunes of others during the war and the difficult mission he had at age 22. “As a combat medic, we did whatever we could, to offer aid. We lost many troops because we could not get them back,” he said.

This last month had special significance, Mr. Morgan said. He had an opportunity early in June to go to Normandy for the 65th anniversary of the D-day invasion from the sea and air. He said he revisited the site with his son in law Mike Dolby, his son Fred B. Morgan 3rd, and his grandson Chris Dolby. Of the 10-day trip, he said: “It was a fantastic trip. The greatest trip I have ever taken.”

After 27 years of service in the Air Force, which included a temporary assignment in Viet Nam, he retired and moved home to the Vineyard where he took a job as Martha’s Vineyard Hospital administrator, a post he held for three years.

He later put in 31 years of service to the town of Edgartown, including as a town selectman. “I am very fortunate,” Mr. Morgan said of his public service.

“I am proud to be a veteran. And I am proud to serve the town of Edgartown,” he said. “America made me who I am. I am proud of being an American.”

His speech drew a standing ovation from those in the almost full chapel.