Press

App.com 7/16/2011

2011-07-25T21:54:07Z

Military welcomed at Shore

Military welcomed at Shore: Towns offer discounts to GIs and volunteers

Written by

Erik Larsen | Staff Writer

More beach towns along the Shore are waiving the cost of beach badges for members of the military, their families and civilians who are willing to volunteer their time as firefighters and first-aiders.

Last month, Gov. Chris Christie signed a new law that allows oceanfront municipalities to offer free or discounted beach badges to active duty military personnel and their dependents. The legislation sought to legitimatize what many towns have been doing for years while the state looked the other way.

While each oceanfront town is empowered to set beach-badge fees, only the state can authorize which groups are exempt from paying.

Nevertheless, Belmar was among the first to waive the cost of beach badges for active-duty military, following the 1991 Gulf War. Earlier this year, the Borough Council passed a resolution extending that courtesy to its volunteer firefighters and first-aiders.

Belmar Mayor Matthew J. Doherty, a Democrat, who took office in January, said he wanted to honor all aspects of community service.

“If you’re a volunteer in Belmar, your family still has to pay — it’s not as generous as the benefit for the military —but it’s still a benefit to you as a volunteer,” Doherty said.

Might the state object? Doherty said the interest of the state is to prevent discrimination along class lines, not to prevent communities from rewarding different forms of public service. The governor himself demonstrated that fact when he signed the military beach badges bill on June 21.

That bill, which was sponsored by state Sen. Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove, all R-Ocean, began as a high school project two years ago for Casey Loundy, 19, of Point Pleasant Beach.

As part of a report, Loundy researched the history of her grandfather, Sidney Loundy, who served in the Army during World War II and was captured as a prisoner of war in the Battle of the Bulge. He died in 1975.

Now a student at the University of Miami, Loundy said she learned that her grandfather, who became a successful entrepreneur after the war, never spoke much about his experiences as a POW. But whatever happened to him had a profound impact on how he treated others in uniform.

“When he came home to Seaside Heights, he would let military members stay with their families at his boarding house for free, and he would feed them at his restaurant for no charge at all,” she said.

The stories of her grandfather inspired Loundy to begin lobbying beach towns like Seaside Heights to get the state government to endorse what towns like Belmar had been doing for years.

Loundy even convinced the business community in Seaside Heights to offer discounts to the military. Today, one needs only to look throughout town for the red, white and blue “Military Discount Available” signs in storefront doors and windows to see the legacy of that effort.

Steve Whalen, the owner of Lucky Leo’s Amusements on the Boardwalk, has not only the sign, but gives out $5 bills to both active duty military and veterans when they come to his arcade.

“If you’ve served your country, it’s good enough for us,” Whalen said. “If you’ve got a military ID, and there’s a lot of them out there … Just come in, go have fun.”

On Saturday in Belmar, Doherty and his staff hosted the borough’s first military appreciation day in the form of a cookout on the Boardwalk. There was donated food, music, entertainment and a special area of the beach reserved for military families.

Doherty said he wants service members stationed at New Jersey’s armories, forts and bases to know they are part of the community and always welcome in Belmar.

Borough Municipal Court Judge Dennis Lavender, who has a daughter in the Air Force, volunteered for cleanup duty Saturday.

“They don’t make anything, I can tell you that,” Lavender said of military salaries. “They’re thrilled by something like this, it makes them feel as if people do care about what they do.”

Naval Petty Officer 3rd Class Aja Tatiana, a native of Colombia, who served in Afghanistan and has been stationed at Naval Weapons Station Earle since 2009, said she felt a feeling of real mutual admiration.

“This is the first time we have been out to the Shore and it’s really nice. It makes you feel appreciated and it’s an opportunity for me to spend time with my family,” Tatiana said.

Captain David “Fuzz’’ Harrison, commanding officer at Earle, asked Doherty if he had heard correctly that this was to become an annual event in Belmar.

“Absolutely it will be an annual event,” Doherty replied.

Star News 7/16/2011

2011-07-25T21:48:21Z

Point Beach’s Casey Loundy began push for free beach access for military families two years ago

By Molly Mulshine

POINT PLEASANT BEACH — Resident Casey Loundy saw more than two years’ worth of work come to fruition when Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill into law on Tuesday that allows Shore towns to provide active-duty military personnel and their immediate families free or discounted beach access.

Ms. Loundy, who is set to begin her second year of college in the fall, began the movement to provide military members with free beach access after a high school project prompted her to look into her family’s history.

“I did a school project in my junior year [of high school] on my grandfather, who served in World War II,” Ms. Loundy said. “He used to let people stay at his boardinghouse and eat free in his restaurant who were serving in the military, and I figured I should be doing something, too, in honor of him.”

Her grandfather, Sidney Loundy, passed away before she was born, Ms. Loundy said.

Ms. Loundy approached the borough council in Seaside Heights first, in 2009, when she was a junior in high school. She presented her plan to give free beach access to military members and their families.

“It took off in every town from Seaside Park to Point Beach” shortly after, Ms. Loundy said.

She began visiting towns in Monmouth County, as well, and found that governing bodies in every town were supportive of the idea.

“In a lot of the towns, I would go to the meeting and they would sign the resolution right there, right as it was proposed,” Ms. Loundy said.

Now, 13 municipalities — more than 25 percent of the 47 Shore towns in New Jersey — have allowed free military beach access via ordinance thanks to Ms. Loundy’s efforts.

These town include Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Lavallette, Bay Head, Point Pleasant Beach, Sea Girt, Manasquan, Belmar, Island Beach State Park, Mantoloking, Ocean City, Neptune, Asbury Park, Highlands, Spring Lake and Berkeley.

Many of these towns offer not only free or discounted beach access to members of the military and their families, but also discounts at local businesses.

Ms. Loundy donates signs advertising military discounts to businesses that offer lower prices to military members. She estimates that she has distributed hundreds of the signs to businesses up and down the coast

Ms. Loundy has been adamant about providing free or discounted beach access not only to military members but also to the their families.

Military families are “the ones being affected, I feel, the most,” she said. “The soldiers are fighting, and [people] think about the soldiers putting their lives at risk for us, but the families are taking a huge toll, and it’s very hard on them.”

Granting them free beach access is a small way to thank them for this sacrifice, she said.

Ms. Loundy first heard of the possibility of her initiative becoming law when she was contacted by Sen. Christopher Conners [R-9], of Forked River, more than one year ago.

Sen. Conners was one of the primary sponsors of the bill, which passed in the Senate and was waiting in the Assembly for quite some time before its passage on Tuesday, Ms. Loundy said.

Ms. Loundy called the governor’s signing of the bill right before the Fourth of July “perfect.”

“I’m just happy that it’s passed [in time] for summer,” Ms. Loundy said.

Mayors of the towns Ms. Loundy approached said they were happy to see the bill become a law.

“I’m in support of what Casey did, and I’m glad to see it happen,” said Mayor Vincent Barrella, of Point Pleasant Beach. “I’m glad to see it happen ... What she was doing made sense.”

Point Pleasant Beach was “in a unique position” in enacting the ordinance two years ago, Mayor Barrella said, because the borough does not own its beaches — instead, private entities do.

“We can ask that the beaches be made available free of charge to military, but that decision is really, for the most part, resting in the private entities that own our beaches,” Mayor Barrella said Wednesday.

Ms. Loundy is aware beaches owned by boardwalk restaurant and amusement businesses Martell’s and Jenkinson’s are free for military members and their families, she said.

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said Wednesday he was also happy to see the law enacted.

Providing military members and their families with free beach access is “something we’re proud to do, and we would encourage every other beach community to do the same,” he said.

Sen. Fred Madden [D-4], who represents Gloucester and Camden counties, is another sponsor of the bill
.

“We can never truly repay our debt to those who are defending our freedoms day in and day out,” Sen. Madden said this week. “At the very least, though, we can provide our servicemen and women with a small token of appreciation by allowing them to access our beaches for free or at a discounted rate.”

Previous law explicitly permitted municipalities to offer a beach badge discount to individuals aged 65 and older, and individuals who are considered disabled by the Federal Social Security Act criteria. Existing law also provided that children less than 12 years old were not charged a beach access fee.

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 39-0 and cleared the Assembly, 74-0-1, Sen. Madden reported. The law takes effect immediately.

About.com Guide 7/14/2011

2011-07-25T22:07:55Z

By Kim Wilson, About.com Guide

When New Jersey teen Casey Loundy set her sights on supporting the troops, she wasn't joking. Thanks to her, active duty servicemembers and their families can now enjoy many NJ beaches at no cost. But that's not all. What makes this an even sweeter deal is that many boardwalk businesses decided to demonstrate their support for the troops by offering military discounts of their own.

Take for example, Steve Whalen, owner of Lucky Leo's Amusements in Seaside Heights, NJ. He shows his appreciation for America's military by giving active duty servicemembers and veterans $5 bills to spend in his arcade.

High School Project Becomes Law
For her senior project, Casey embarked upon a mission to change New Jersey law so that beach communities could offer military discounts or free admission to active duty servicemembers and their families.

Area lawmakers supported Casey and sponsored a bill which gave towns the option to offer military discounts or free admission--a bill which Gov. Chris Christie signed into law. Prior to this law, shore communities could only offer reduced prices on beach admission to persons aged 65 and older or individuals with disabilities.

Participating Communities
The new law doesn't require towns to extend military discounts, but rather gives them the option to do so. To view a list of all participating communities, please visit Casey's Web site, Free Military Beaches.

Carrying On Her Grandfather's Legacy
During her junior year in high school, Casey wrote a report about her grandfather's military service, which set the foundation for her Free Military Beaches project. And, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Literally.

In WWII, Casey's late grandfather, Sid Loundy served in the Army. During the Battle of the Bulge, he was wounded and captured as a POW.

After his release he returned to the states and settled in Seaside Heights, NJ where he opened a restaurant and boarding house. To show his thanks and appreciation for the troops and their families Sid offered military discounts and when necessary, free meals and a free place to stay.

Although I can't be certain, I imagine that decades ago Mr. Loundy never dreamed that the kindness he bestowed upon the troops would someday inspire his granddaughter to honor his memory by carrying on his legacy of giving back to the military community--and similar to yesteryear, Casey's actions and accomplishments are recognized and very much appreciated.

Thanking Casey
If you'd like to send Casey a quick note of thanks and appreciation you may do so here.

Casey on News 12 6/22/2011

2011-06-22T21:54:24Z

Teen's idea for free military beach access almost state law (06/10/11)

POINT PLEASANT - A Point Pleasant teenager's idea to salute U.S. troops at the Jersey Shore may soon become law.

Casey Loundy, 19, spearheaded a bill to score free beach access for military personnel, their families and veterans across the state. The bill has passed through both houses of the state Legislature, and now awaits approval from Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.).

Loundy says her idea, "Free Military Beaches", was a school project that gained momentum through her website and a News 12 New Jersey interview last year.

"I see military members on the boardwalk all the time and I want to be able to give back to them," she said. "I've gotten calls, emails from military families thanking me, and it just feels great."

Loundy has attended 15 town council meetings in nearby communities to get towns on board. She has also registered support from nearly 100 businesses that now offer military discounts.

NJ.com - War's Burden - by Paul Mulshine 5/27/2011

2011-06-22T22:09:21Z

Soldiers shouldn't need no stinking badges to get on the beach

And they won't have to buy them if Casey Loundy's campaign succeeds. The recent graduate of Point Pleasant Beach High School began a campaign to get service-members free access to Jersey beaches. At the moment it's not legal for municipalities to do so. Loundy has persuaded several members of the Legislature to sponsor a bill that would change permit the practice. That bill has passed both houses and awaits the governor's signature. Enjoy the above video, which is narrated by another Casey of my acquaintance.

Paul Mulshine

Casey's News 12 Interview

2011-03-30T21:03:52Z

War's Burden Video - Part 2 - 2/20/10

2010-02-20T22:43:33Z

Ocean Count Gazette 5/15/09

2009-11-24T21:51:40Z

Ocean County Gazette 7/3/09

2009-11-24T21:56:56Z

WOBM Clips 10/2/09

2009-11-24T22:40:14Z

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