By DOUG OTTO
The rainy weather outside did not dampen spirits inside Ocean City American Legion Post 524 as a large patriotic crowd gathered on Sunday to greet Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Ojeda and Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin Root and their families to kick off their donated 2023 Rest & Relaxation Program vacations.
Commander Bob Marzulli thanked the families for their continued service to America.
“Consider Ocean City your new home. Come back anytime, because Post 524 is your new family,” Marzulli told them.
Program co-chairmen Joe Masington and Jerry Bonner thanked all the local organizations who have made this program a success for the last 11 years.
“We want to thank the City of Ocean City, The Ocean City Police Department, the Ocean City Fire Department, and the American Legion Riders,” Masington said.
“And we want to express special thanks to Watson’s Regency Hotel and Ocean City residents Marianne and Joe McNulty for donating condo space,” Bonner said.
Masington and Bonner also praised the many local merchants who graciously donated gift baskets and free restaurant meals to the families.
They particularly mentioned MJ Flammer, NJ Senior Operations and Programs Manager for the USO at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, who each year is instrumental in recommending military families for the R&R Program.
Numerous gifts were presented to the families. Post member Steve Cole gave each child a plaque and medal for displaying “strength, caring and courage while your dad has been serving our country.”
Bouquets of flowers were given to Cristal Ojeda and Hope Root, the wives of the servicemen.
A very visible and moving segment of the celebration was the wrapping of both staff sergeants in a Quilt of Valor from the South Jersey Quilts of Valor Foundation.
Quilt of Valor Foundation member Jane French noted that over the last 20 years, the national QOV Foundation has hand-stitched 351,000 quilts for U.S. military personnel. This day’s quilts were a pattern that French titled “Heroes Comfort.”
Among the guests were dignitaries, Cape May County Surrogate E. Marie Hayes and Cape May County Commissioner Andrew Bulakowski.
Both presented the families with free admissions to the Cape May County Zoo along with “a private backstage tour of all the animal exhibits.”
The last ceremonial happening for the families was a Monday meeting with Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian, who presented them with a proclamation and a key to the city.
“I want to thank you for all you do,” Gillian said. “This is what Ocean City is all about — family traditions. There will always be a home in Ocean City for our military and our veterans.”
Ocean City American Legion Post 524’s Rest & Relaxation Program is already preparing for the arrival of next year’s military families.
Anyone wishing to donate a condominium or specific gifts is encouraged to contact Rest and Relaxation Program chairmen Joe Masington or Jerry Bonner at American Legion Post 524 by calling (609) 304-3088 or visiting www.legion524ocnj.org.
