Surf Memorial Displays Bravery, Valor of Cancer Patients, U.S. Vets

AVALON – For the 22nd time, Brendan Borek’s circle of friends formed off 30th Street beach Sat., Aug. 4 at noon to remember the 18-year-old who fought a courageous battle against Ewing’s Sarcoma, and whose memorial fund has helped many Cape May County children with cancer and their families.
For the first time, that circle was joined by military amputee veterans of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps who, through Operation Amped of the Travis Manion Foundation, also enjoyed surfing. As they paddled their boards and rode waves, some in the crowd waved American flags to add a touch of patriotism to the day.
As noon approached, surfers were told to clear the water for the start of the annual memorial event. That ceremony included a group photograph of many of Brendan’s surfer friends and others who have become closely involved with the organization’s work.
Lydia Borek, Brendan’s mother, assisted by her son, David, filled plastic bags with red rose petals. A bag was given to each surfer who would participate in the memorial circle.
Cameron Dauria, 5, of Ocean View and his father, Travis Dauria, were featured speakers at the memorial service. Cameron was diagnosed in May 2008 with Wilms Tumor on his kidney. The Borek High Tides Memorial Fund aided the Dauria family through his treatment, as it has for numerous other local children and their families.
Cameron sang a thank you song he learned in pre-K, which drew a beach full of applause. Travis Dauria said his son will begin kindergarten in Mays Landing next month.
Cameron enjoys playing soccer as well as being at the beach, said his father.
A list of names of children who had been helped and had passed on was read by the Boreks and other helpers on the platform.
At the conclusion of that solemn part of the ceremony, surfers were told to begin their trek to the sea for the formation of the larger circle. Once there, they joined hands, then tossed their floral tribute on the sea surface, then splashed a bit, then the circle disbanded.
As the surfers went ashore, military amputee veterans demonstrated their sporting capabilities. One, with a prosthetic leg surfed to shore, demonstrating courage and bravery, the stuff so common among the nation’s fighting forces, and lauded by applause from the crowd.
The mission of the Travis Manion Foundation is to assist veterans and families of fallen military heroes.
According to the organization’s website, “(1st Lt.) Manion and his fellow Marines fought courageously to change the tide in this critical battle ground. As a result of their efforts, Al Anbar Province is now recognized as one of the more significant successes of the surge in Iraq.
“On April 29, 2007 during his final patrol mission, Manion made the ultimate sacrifice.
“His patrol was concluding a search of a suspected insurgent house when it came under precision small arms fire attack. With the corpsman seriously wounded by enemy fire and the attack developing in to a full-scale ambush, Manion and a fellow Marine exposed themselves to increasing fire to pull the corpsman out of the kill zone.”