Sea Isle City Will Continue To Distribute Beach Tags to Veterans

SEA ISLE CITY — After years of lobbying for a State law that allows municipalities to distribute free seasonal beach tags to United States military veterans, Sea Isle City officials are very happy that Governor Christie recently signed Bill S-958, which will do just that.
Five years ago, Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio met with a group of local veterans from VFW Post 1963 to find a way to distribute free seasonal beach tags to vets, even though there was no enabling legislation that allowed municipalities to do so. The initial solution: Have the VFW purchase and distribute beach tags themselves. So, in 2010 – and each year since – up to 500 veterans received complimentary special edition beach tags, which made Sea Isle City the first New Jersey resort with beach fees to offer veterans time on the sand for free.
Starting in 2011, the City of Sea Isle City also began giving active duty military members and their dependents free beach tags during their vacations here. To receive the complimentary tags, Armed Forces members and their dependents must present valid active duty identification cards.
Then, in 2012 Mayor Desiderio and local radio personality Joe Griffies, host of the “Welcome Home” weekly talk show for veterans, testified before a Veterans Affairs Committee, led by Senator Jeff Van Drew. During their testimony, the Mayor and Griffies asked for legislation that would allow shore resorts to give Veterans free beach tags.
“Because of the new legislation, I am very happy that all shore communities can easily thank our nation’s veterans in this small way, which is something we have been doing in Sea Isle City for the past five years,” said Mayor Desiderio. “I am very grateful to Senator Van Drew, who was instrumental in getting this law passed, and to Governor Christie, for signing the bill. It’s my wish that all shore towns will offer free beach tags to veterans as we do here.”