by Doug Otto, Public Relations Officer for the Ocean City American Legion Morvay-Miley Post 524
View the entire newsletter for more articles: 2015 - NJAC County Biz - September Edition
The shrill sirens can be heard long before the red pumper from the Ocean City Fire Company rumbles down Bay Avenue. The miniature American flags fluttering from the motorcycle handlebars of the American Legion Riders come into view first, followed closely by a vehicle carrying the military guest of honor and his family.
From the front porch of Morvay-Miley Post 524, behind the assembled and cheering crowd of well wishers, stands Steve Cole, Chairman of the Veterans Rest and Relaxation Committee. And he’s smiling broadly.
For the third consecutive year, Ocean City’s American Legion Post 524 is welcoming veterans and their families to America’s Favorite Family Resort for an all-expenses-paid, one-week vacation as a way to say, “Thank you” for services rendered and sacrifices made that few of us will fully understand.
“The Veterans Rest & Relaxation Program pays tribute to servicemen and women for sacrifices they’ve made during their time in the military,” said program chairman Cole. “Whenever military personnel are deployed, their families also share in that deployment and we support their efforts as well.”
The program began in February 2013 when post member and local realtor, Chris Mirena, a supporter of the Wounded Warrior Foundation, donated the use of his condominium to a returning veteran who had sustained a service-related injury. The idea was so popular, that it was expanded and re-named the Veterans Rest & Relaxation Program. Soon after, gifts from local merchants, free meals from area restaurants, and no-charge services from the City of Ocean City and Cape May County were added, making the program unique in all of New Jersey.
Cape May County Freeholder and Ocean City resident Marie Hayes is an active proponent of this popular recognition celebration. Through her efforts, all eight veteran families honored to date, have received complimentary “back lot tours” of the Cape May County Park and Zoo.
“The Cape May County Freeholder Board is proud to be a part of this wonderful program,” said Freeholder Hayes. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could treat every returning veteran this way?”
Hayes has strongly supported other Post 524 activities, especially the local American Legion’s efforts to build a new, larger headquarters. For the last four years, Post 524 has leased a property from Cape May County, but membership growth has necessitated a move to larger quarters. Fundraising efforts are well underway to make this move a reality by Memorial Day 2016.
Army Captain Ryan Bailey is surrounded by his wife Laurie and his children: Emma, Eleanore and Ryan
On September 5th, Army Captain Ryan Bailey and his family were honored with a ceremony at Post 524, a multitude of gifts from Ocean City merchants and a week’s stay in a donated condominium.
Captain Bailey served as a Combat Arms Officer, was an active participant in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and was embedded with the Afghan National Army’s premier strategic fighting force in Kabul Afghanistan. He has led over 100 combat patrols through hostile territory during his 3 years of active duty and 16 years a reservist.
“The tradition of honoring the service of America’s finest military personnel and their families is alive and well in Ocean City,” said Steve Cole. “American Legion Post 524 is pleased to continue to uphold it’s motto: Veteran’s Serving Veterans. And we’re especially happy to be doing it here in Cape May County.”
If you are interested in learning more about this program, please contact Doug Otto at (609) 399-0502.