Guards’ Stands Point to Patriotism

CAPE MAY POINT – What is the Union Jack? What was the “Star Spangled Banner” originally? Did Paul Revere shout, “The regulars are coming!”? Why did Betsy Ross choose a five-point star instead of a six-point star for the flag? If the British wore red, and the colonists wore buckskin or blue, what color did the French wear?
Answering these five questions correctly, the reader is partly on the way to becoming the winner of the annual Cape May Point Ocean-Bay Rescue Fourth of July Stand Decorating Contest.
Begun in 1996, the contest requires that guards decorate their stands around the Fourth-of-July theme. They are given extra points for how they decorate their entrance, equipment and themselves, how they use red, white and blue in the decorations, what type of specialties are included, such as food and singing, and beach patron participation.
The guards need to answer five historical questions and can use two “lifelines” from the crowd if needed.
“It’s a chance for the beach patrol at Cape May Point to build community with beach patrons,” said Bill Oat, beach patrol chief. “We work around the basic theme and let the guards be as creative as they want.
“Every year it’s always a little different,” he added. “It’s also a great way to build camaraderie among the patrol team.”
This year, the 12 guards on duty July 4 started decorating each of the six lifeguard stands about 10 a.m. although the planning took place ahead of time.
Two guards were stationed at each stand, and decoration ranged from the “subtle approach” at Pearl Beach to the Olympics being played at St. Peter’s Beach, to a guitar-playing lifeguard leading his beachgoers in patriotic songs at Surf Beach.
There was a tribute to the veterans who fought for freedom at Lehigh Beach, in addition to a salute to the Founding Fathers.
Two stands focused their efforts around the theme “America,” at Brainard and Coral beaches, although Coral Beach went all out with their decorations, beach goer participation, food and answering all five questions correctly and thereby becoming the winning stand.
Pearl Beach, as the losing stand, buys the winners lunch, according to Oat.
Mayor Robert Moffat, one of the judges of the stand decorating, said events like this are “one of the reasons I love Cape May Point. It’s small town, and everyone participates, the lifeguards, the beach goers, the community and the chief.”
The contest also kicks off the junior lifeguard program which runs three times a week during July for children 8-15 years of age.
Oat said this community program focuses on three things: lifesaving techniques of how to save someone, first aid, including how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and competitive games on the beach and in the water.
“We stress responsibility to themselves and others, team and water safety,” Oat said. “It’s a good feeder program into our lifeguard program.
“The ocean is always changing, so everyone needs to be aware.”
By the way, the answers to the questions, according to Oat are: the British flag; a poem; yes, true; because the six-point star was used in British heraldry, and blue or white.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.