FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION

TRIANGLE BRANCH 182

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"Staff of The Supreme Commander"

Two Bell Ceremony in remembrance of those
Shipmates that have received orders to serve

on the Staff of the Supreme Commander.

2025

Shipmate John R. Rash

Shipmate Ralph W. Freibert

Please remember our troops who continue to serve at home and around the world.

Captain
Ralph W. Freibert USN (Ret)
December 15, 1940 - June 7, 2025

Shipmate Ralph was an FRA Member of 25 years. Ralph joined the US Navy, where he served his country for 29 years. He retired in 1992 at the rank of Captain. Ralph saw combat action during the Vietnam war and was stationed all over the world during his illustrious career, including Japan, Korea, Guam and time stationed at the Pentagon. He had several naval deployments, including as the Commanding Oﬃcer of the USS Flint, and even earned the honorary title of Commodore when he was the Commander of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron-3.

For his full obituary please see the link below:
https://www.goinghomecares.com/obituaries/Ralph-W-Freibert?obId=42934016

In Remembrance

To report a passing of a Shipmate please Contact Us .

Lieutenant
John R. Rash USN (Ret)
January 4, 1930 - May 23, 2025

Shipmate John was a life FRA Member and Charter Member of Triangle Branch 182 of 70 years. John had retired from the U.S. Government as a cryptologist. He was a U.S. Navy veteran.

For his full obituary please see the link below:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/carrollcountytimes/name/john-rash-obituary?id=58473578

The Two Bell Ceremony. When executed properly, the Fleet Reserve Association’s “Two-Bell Ceremony” is dramatic testimony to humility, dignity, reverence and honor. It fulfills the promise of our preamble – “our reverence for the memory of our departed shipmates.”

Unfortunately, there is no written documentation or knowledge that clearly identifies the origin of this beloved ritual except that it is unique and ours alone. In researching naval history back to the time of Britain’s Lord Nelson we can find no record of a memorial ceremony using the ship’s bell. Our current elder statesmen credit several deceased shipmates as being largely responsible for the originating and refinement of the ritual. But it is clear the sounding of two bells is the “time,” or the “moment,” to pause and reflect on our shipmates who are now serving on the staff of the Supreme Commander.

In days past, “two bells” marked the end of the routine day aboard ship. It was time for “Tattoo” and soon “Taps” would sound throughout the ship. Certainly, this is a most appropriate time to honor our departed shipmates.

Those familiar with one of the greatest stories of the sea, “The Ancient Mariner,” will remember that he/she found safe passage in narrow waters by listening to the bell on the marking buoy. That bobbing marking buoy sounds much like the tolling of a bell for a funeral dirge, solemn, reverent and mournful.

Since the beginning of recorded time, men of the sea have been guided and impressed by the sounding of the ship’s bell. In our “Two Bell Ceremony,” the tolling of the bell and the spoken word can and should be combined to execute a ritual that contributes to and strengthens the bond that exists amongst all shipmates of the Fleet Reserve Association.

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