Sea Isle City Dedicates Veterans Park, Renames JFK Blvd.

SEA ISLE CITY — The dedication of Veterans Park and the renaming of JFK Boulevard as Veterans Boulevard was the highlight of Veterans Day 2010 on Nov. 10.
The event began with a parade of veterans, members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1963, which followed a vintage Jeep with mounted machine gun that sounded real, thanks to compressed air.
Deacon Liam Conor O’Clisham of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church offered the invocation. Rev. Barbara Frohock, pastor of the First United Methodist Church offered the Benediction.
Russell Briggs, a veteran, sang the national anthem, joined by the crowd, which included members of the second and third grade class at Sea Isle City Elementary School. Briggs also sand “America the Beautiful”, recited “My Buddy” and “God Bless America.”
Those pupils also helped Mayor Leonard Desiderio cut the ribbon at the Veterans Memorial. He gave each a part of the red, white and blue ribbon as a tribute to the day, and urged them to keep the ribbon as a memento of the day’s ceremony.
Wreath laying took place near the memorial fountain to honor those who fought in World War I and World War II, by Nick Cooney; Korean War by Harry Henry; Daniel Campbell, Vietnam War; Tully O’Clisam, Middle East conflicts and Ladies Auxiliary V.F.W. Post 1963 by President Marie Gardner.
Members of the Cape May County Militia made up the firing squad that rendered a salute.
Commander Charles Hunter of VFW Post 1963 did Roll Call of the honored deceased veterans.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the mayor officially renamed JFK Boulevard as Veterans Boulevard.