Upper Township-Ocean City Noon Rotary Report — This volunteer organization, which raises money for projects in the community, recently had as its speaker, Rocky Gannon, who talked about life as a teenager in Ocean City during World War II. Some of his comments included conditions on the Boardwalk at that time. Gannon recalled that the Music Pier’s windows “were covered with black cloth or painted,” along with the “Boardwalk store fronts and Boardwalk lights,” because of the “threat of U-boats.”
He also noted some things that were not around in 1944 “when we were in high school,” including “pizzas, Cheerios, frozen food, instant coffee, and McDonald’s.”
When Gannon was 17 and in his junior year, he left OCHS and enlisted in the Air Force. He remarked that 25 percent of his class that “started with us in our freshman year” was not at graduation, as they had “enlisted or been drafted into the Armed Forces.” Shortly after his class had graduated, Gannon completed pilot training and was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot.
Just one of his numerous accomplishments during his 37 years in the military was in 1975, when he became the U.S. Air Force’s first Master Air Traffic Controller.
Gannon has received 50 military awards and decorations and retired from the Air Force in 1980.
After the meeting, Gannon said that he eventually received his high school diploma. (“The New Jersey Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Dept. of Education jointly launched Operation Recognition in October 2000. The program will award a state-endorsed high school diploma to any New Jersey veteran who left a New Jersey high school to enter military service during World War II.”)
The Rotary has a luncheon meeting every Monday at noon at the Tuckahoe Inn in Beesleys Point.
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OC Pops are tops – The Friends of the OC Pops invite you to “meet and greet” Artistic Director William Scheible and many of the members of the orchestra tonight, Aug. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the North Building Inlet Room of 500 Bay Condo, on Bay Ave. Light refreshments will be served. The cost is $10 per person. Call Marie Knight at 609-399-4646 to make reservations.
Also, the Friends of the OC Pops will be holding their 22nd annual Luncheon at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point on Thurs., Aug. 18. One of the highlights of the program will feature tenor Jeffrey Halili, who has recently performed with opera companies in New York City, San Antonio, and Nashville.
There will also be raffles, a silent auction, and baskets filled with items and gift certificates that Ocean City merchants and organizations have donated. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $40 per person, and are available at the Music Pier before Pops’ concerts and during intermissions until Aug. 14. For further information, contact Marie Knight at 609-204-2060.
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Local Authors’ Night – The public is invited to this event on Thursday, Aug. 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Schiavo Library in Strathmere. The authors will display, discuss, and promote their books, which include local novels, memoirs, recipes and nostalgia, and biographies. Light refreshments will be provided. The Library is located at 801 S. Commonwealth Ave., 609-486-6265.
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For a complete list of upcoming events in the county go to the Herald calendar, in print and online, at www. capemaycountyherald.com/calendar.
If you would like to make the public aware of happenings in your town, classroom, group, or club, please email me at RWhelan@cmcherald.com.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
