Response to Sunset Ceremony Spout

To the Editor: 
A spouter from Cape May/Bedminster Township made disparaging remarks in the Aug. 8 Herald about my family over our alleged disrespect to the American flag at the Sunset Ceremony at Sunset Beach.
The spouter’s remarks were made because they were upset that the flag ceremony was held at 7 p.m., which is a new time for 2018. Prior to 2018, the ceremony occurred 20 to 30 minutes before sunset, meaning it was always moving and the general public was very confused about when it would take place.
Rather than make this letter a long lesson on flag etiquette, all one needs to do is simply search the internet on various sites, including the American Legion.
We are not a military installation, nor are we a congressionally chartered national veteran’s organization. Even if we were, we still would not be disrespecting the flag, as the spouter states, by having our ceremony at 7 p.m.
Our father, Marvin Hume, a WWII Navy veteran, simply wanted to honor veterans. One of his greatest accomplishments was that he raised people’s awareness of the importance of patriotism and what it means to be an American.
All of our family and staff at Sunset Beach have that same goal. It is also a time for families to come together, to unite, remember and honor their loved one who served our country.
During our flag ceremonies, it is hard to find even one person on the beach out of the many hundreds who do not have their hand over their heart. I could say much more about this but rather will direct readers to a one-hour interview I had a few weeks ago about our flag ceremony entitled, “The Locals Episode 55,” which they can listen to at capemayradio.org.
I would also direct readers to an article in the Aug. 8 Herald which spoke of the new sunrise/sunset ceremony in North Wildwood this summer. Paragraph two stated, “The flag flew over Hereford Inlet until 7 p.m., when it was lowered and folded by Petty Officer James Allen and Seamen Chris Williams. Seamen Kurt Jones and Steven Magni performed ‘Taps’ on bugles.”
Was the U.S. Coast Guard disrespecting the flag? I don’t think so.