Star News Group Article 11/6/09

Bay Head declared ‘military friendly’




Bay Head Mayor William W. Curtis and Casey Loundy

 

 

 

By Mikki-Jean Burzon


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.”