Six years after losing everything in superstorm Sandy, former Union Beach resident Bernard Ebner got something precious back.

The 69-year-old Navy veteran, who served two tours in Vietnam, was presented with replacements for five U.S. military medals the storm swept away in October 2012. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., handed Ebner the awards in a ceremony Tuesday.

“It was pretty emotional for me,” Ebner told the Asbury Park Press. “I was very proud of those medals.”

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Ebner and his wife Linda lived in Union Beach for 44 years before Sandy flooded their Bay Avenue Cape Cod with 11 feet of water. He originally had displayed the medals in a case in the family room.

“When we had kids, that room got used for the kids and a lot of stuff got put away,” he said.

The medals went into a cabinet in the boiler room, and after Sandy they were never recovered after many months of sifting through the wreckage.

“Going through what we went through with Sandy, you had thousands of boxes,” he said. “It took us almost a year and a half to realize they were one of the things missing.”

The home was torn down and the Ebners relocated to Manchester in 2013. Bernard reached out about the missing medals to Smith, who requested replacements from National Personal Record Center and the Navy. Medals lost due to natural disaster or fire may be eligible to be replaced free of charge.

“Six years ago today Sandy took away these medals,” Smith, who was the chairman of the Veterans Committee in the House of Representatives for four years, told Ebner during Tuesday’s ceremony in his Plumsted office. “What an honor it is and a privilege to be here with you today to help restore something Sandy took away.”

The medals Ebner earned:

The National Defense Service Medal

The Vietnam Service Medal

The Vietnam Campaign Medal

The Navy E Button

The Meritorious Unit Commendation

“To have full peace of mind over what happened (with Sandy), I don’t think that will ever happen, but I’m extremely thankful to get those back,” Ebner said.

They will be going in a place of honor in his home.

“I plan on getting another display type of case, and I’ll put them in our dining room or living room,” he said.

“It was awesome to see that my dad got his medals back,” daughter Kelly Maher said. “His time in the military meant so much to him.”

For the latest on Sandy recovery, check out the video atop this story.

Staff writer Jerry Carino: jcarino@gannettnj.com