Retired Captain Robert Ellis served in the Navy for 38 years, and on Tuesday he said that wasn’t long enough.

“I’ve loved the Navy since I ate my first bowl of bean soup in the service,” Ellis, a Marion native, said. “I wish I was still there.”

Members of the Benjamin D. Cushing Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2425 invited Ellis, who retired in 1992, to be the guest speaker at the town’s Veterans Day ceremony.

Held at the Veterans’ Memorial Park at Old Landing, the event featured remarks from Selectmen, Pastor Gary Taylor, and post member Joe Napoli, who served as the master of ceremonies. The Sippican School Band played music.

Ellis graduated from Sippican School and Tabor Academy. He said he had many fond memories of the town. He noted his father Claude served for many years as a Selectmen. Ellis noted his father accomplished much during his tenure, such as establishing a little league, helping to get the bathhouse at Silvershell Beach built and making sure Washburn Park was maintained.

Ellis now lives in Connecticut with his wife Judy.

After Tabor, Ellis attended college for a few months, but decided to join the Navy instead.

“It was the best decision I ever made,” he said.

Ellis served tours of duty on four ships and had shore tours in Maryland, Iceland, Rhode Island and Boston. He was also the commanding officer of the Navy’s largest Personnel Support Activity Network in Norfolk, Virginia from 1987 to 1991.

Napoli said Ellis was known as the “sailor’s captain” for having advanced from seaman to captain through his lengthy career.

“And that’s quite a feather in his cap,” Napoli said.

Napoli opened the ceremony by offering thanks.

“Today we have the opportunity to thank veterans,” he said. “It should be clear to every American that no matter what we do, each and every one of us reaps the benefit of their service.”

Napoli shared a memory from his time overseas. He recalled what one of his fellow soldiers told him: “‘Freedom has a different flavor for those who fought for it,’ and it certainly does.”