To the Editor:
As the Jacob Jones memorial committee (looking to a future Cape May City Council vote) rethinks “square one,” I would ask that they expand their thought process. So far the shock and awe approach at the beach that disrupts nature and requires new platforms, placing it in known storm surge and wildlife areas, has been soundly rejected.
The site selection criteria in the Jones committee presentations have been that the beach and ocean must be visible, that it must be in the city of Cape May and that it be capable of harmonizing art and nature.
If those are “must haves,” then given the environment of Cape May the following should be also be criteria: the memorial cannot disturb or diminish a nature area; It must not disrupt the beach experience, which includes view, mood and the natural environment; a monument of size should be away from the beach; the beach promenade can have a plaque, a “stand here and look” at ground level only; no new beach platforms, no construction that interferes with a natural beach setting.
It should reflect the ambience of Cape May, a town of residents, visitors, families, businesses, all of whom are attracted to our history and nature.
The monument as so far presented would force unsuspecting visitors, families and locals to “experience the horror of war and the terror felt by the sailors.” Those words have been repeatedly expressed in public presentations as one of the committee’s goals for the memorial’s experience. Those sailors fought and sacrificed to keep war from reaching our shores.
How does it honor them if a monument does what the enemy couldn’t achieve – bring the war ashore? Horror and terror are more suited for a war museum exhibit that is a conscious choice to experience. It is not OK to force that experience on the public in a resort town with charm and beaches and families.
Other resort areas have found ways to do this.
*The Outer Banks. A museum off the beach that gives seekers a map of the shore and red dots as to where 70 ships sank in the Battle of the Atlantic. You can choose to walk the shore and look at the maps and imagine.
*Hilton Head. A small, bench-size monument for a different war, with a model of the ship and instructions for those who wish to walk a few hundred yards farther to get a view of the water and where the battle took place.
So in Cape May? Perhaps a ground-level promenade plaque: ”As you look to the southwest toward Delaware you can envision where the USS Jacob Jones ship patrolled … as you look to the east end of the beach there is the now-active Coast Guard base, then the naval base that cared for the survivors as they were brought ashore.”
I am the son of a WW2 veteran. I am a bit sad, as I expect the committee is, that while the intent to honor those sailors is worthy, so far what has been presented is a mismatch in execution for the City of Cape May. Let’s see other creative and more appropriate ideas.
Jeffery Morris
Cape May City
