To the Editor:
As a proud veteran of VFW Post 386 and American Legion Post 193, I have become aware of the military history of Cape May and the surrounding communities. For instance, the All Wars Monument in Soldier and Sailors Park on Columbia Avenue.
But there is no monument to the story of the first U.S. Navy ship, the USS Jacob Jones, sunk by a German submarine in the early stages of World War II approximately 25 miles off the coast of Cape May, where it and a brave crew lie. To ensure the crew of the Jacob Jones is not forgotten, a member of our VFW post has taken up the challenge, despite some local resistance, to find a spot to have a monument.
The USS Arizona helps us to remember the attack on Pearl Harbor. Let’s have a monument to remember the brave men who went down on the Jacob Jones off the coast of Cape May.
This sinking prompted the construction of the Cape May Canal, which provided a protected route for American ships during World War II to avoid German submarines awaiting off the coast of Cape May.
I don’t have all the answers to this, but I hope Cape May’s entire community finds a way to come together to honor this part of their history.
Richard Nelson
West Cape May
