Bay Head was declared
‘military friendly’ on Monday evening.
The
declaration by the mayor and council came as a result of local high school
senior Casey Loundy, of Point Pleasant Beach, who has been campaigning all
across the Jersey Shore for more military-friendly towns and beaches.
The
council unanimously voted to pass the resolution, which states that the mayor
and council “encourage all local businesses to offer military discounts to
those serving in the armed forces.”
Additionally,
the declaration states that “the Bay Head Improvement Association already
provides free beach badges to active military members, their spouses, and
eligible children.”
According
to Tom Gage, chairman of the Bay Head Improvement Association [BHIA], it has
been providing complimentary badges for active military personnel for about
five years and extends the courtesy to spouses and immediate children.
In
honor of Casey’s hard work and worthy cause, Mayor Curtis also presented her
with a proclamation and all in attendance gave her a round of applause.
Before
accepting the proclamation, Casey thanked the mayor and council for their
assistance and answered a few questions, including one from Councilman John
DeFilippis, regarding a business’ discretion for providing a discount.
“The
amount of or type of discount, is that up to the businesses,” Councilman
DeFilippis asked.
“Yes,
it is up to the businesses to decide how they will discount any items, or if
they will, and I am also going to provide a list of all the places offering
discounts and what the discounts are on my Web site,” Casey explained.
Her
new Web site, www.freemilitarybeaches.com,
will provide more information on the goal of the project and the various towns
that have declared themselves military friendly.
As
of Monday evening, other local towns that Casey has visited and received
commitments from include Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Lavallette, Brick, Toms
River, Point Pleasant Beach, Sea Girt, Manasquan and Atlantic City.
This
all came about through a World War II project Casey did last year at school,
where she was asked to interview someone who served, or knew someone who
served, in World War II and write a report about that person.
Casey
chose to write her report about her grandfather, Sidney Loundy, formerly of
Seaside Heights, who served in the Army during World War II.
Sidney
Loundy died before Casey was born, so she interviewed her grandmother, Adele
Loundy.
Casey’s
grandfather was also one of the founding members of the Seaside Veterans of
Foreign Wars [VFW] unit and American Legion Post 351, which assisted returning
members of the military.
Casey
said she did not know much about her grandfather before doing the report, and
said it was a great way to learn about all the great things he had accomplished
in his life.
It
was after doing this report last school year that Casey began her quest to make
towns in New Jersey military-friendly.
Councilwoman
Jennifer Barnes-Gambert, who read the resolution, also spoke after hearing
Casey’s presentation.
“I
am, on a personal level, very proud of Casey and honored to be a part of this
declaration because my husband is a Marine,” Councilwoman Barnes-Gambert said.
Mayor
Curtis also presented the Point Pleasant First Aid & Emergency Squad with a
proclamation in honor of its 80th Anniversary.
Bay
Head residents have long appreciated the efforts and dependability of the
squad, which covers Point Pleasant Beach, Mantoloking and Bay Head.
“Without
them we would be in a whole lot of trouble,” Councilwoman Barnes-Gambert said
during the reading of the resolution that honored the first aid squad.
During
an interview prior to the presentation, Mr. Lloyd, who is also a resident of
Bay Head, said, “When you’re serving friends and family, it becomes very
meaningful work.”
Later,
while accepting the proclamation from Mayor Curtis, Ms. Melo and Mr. Lloyd said
that the first aid squad is always looking for volunteers.
“Kids
and adults are welcome and for any amount of time, if you can only volunteer an
hour that is fine,” Mr. Lloyd said.
The
presentation concluded with a light-hearted comment from Councilman James
Urner, who said, “Thank you very much for your service and may I never need
you.”
