By Doug Otto
Thanksgiving is known as a holiday of family togetherness, combined with good food and fun. All this can change if one is away from home and in a new location while serving your country.
Ocean City’s Sons of the American Legion Squadron 524 will be offering a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to 40 Coast Guard recruits stationed at Cape May’s Coast Guard Training Station during this family-centered holiday.
“Cape May County is a proud Coast Guard Community,” said Sons commander Mike Byerly. “Many of us spend a good deal of time on the water, and it is always reassuring to know that if things go sideways, the Coast Guard has our backs.”
At 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, a charter bus will pick-up the recruits at the Cape May Coast Guard Training Station and transport them to the Ocean City Welcome Center, where they will be greeted by a police and fire company brigade. The recruits will then be formally escorted to the American Legion’s Morvay-Miley Cruice Post 524 at 46th Street and West Avenue for a daylong celebration.
Following coffee and breakfast snacks, a full array of activities will be offered, including games of pinball, pool, shuffleboard, darts and corn hole. Surround sound music and television sports will play all day.
The recruits will enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, tenderloin, pulled pork and all the traditional side dish fixings. The main dishes are being prepared by Dave Newman, owner and executive chef at Ocean City’s Blitz’s Market. Volunteers from Post 524’s Veterans, Auxiliary and Sons family will make the recruits feel right at home.
“I can’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to demonstrably express our gratitude to these young men and women who have chosen to serve our country and our community,” said Byerly. “Hopefully today’s festivities will ease the burden of being separated from their families, and serve as a reminder that their fellow Americans appreciate their sacrifices and service.”
The Coast Guard Training Center at Cape May is the birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted Corps, where all nationwide recruit training functions were consolidated in 1982. Annually, 4,600 new recruits begin their careers with an eight-week training program here.
The Squadron 524 Thanksgiving dinner was aided by the American Red Cross’s New Jersey Region and its Operation Fireside. This program puts recruits and Thanksgiving dinner sponsors in direct contact. Those who would like to learn more about the Red Cross Operation Fireside can reach out by email to opfiresidenj@redcross.org or by calling 609-562-3483.
To learn more about activities sponsored by Ocean City’s Morvay-Miley-Cruise American Legion Post 524, contact them by phone: (609) 304-3088 or by email: www.legion524ocni.com.
