The city’s Morvay-Miley-Cruice American Legion Post 524 has gifted three military families with a week-long trip to the resort next month.
The families will be welcomed to Ocean City on July 12 as part of the post’s Rest & Relaxation Program. The families will be given use of a free condominium for the week, as well as gifts from local businesses as a thank you for their service.
The Rest & Relaxation Program began in 2013 as a way to pay tribute to servicemen and women, said committee co-chair Joe Masington in a news release.
“Whenever military personnel are deployed, their families also share in that deployment, and we support their efforts, as well,” Masington said.
Following a police and fire department motorcade and an escort into town by the Legion Riders motorcycle brigade, the three families will be honored in a ceremony at noon July 12 at the American Legion building on 46th Street and West Avenue.
The families will also receive personalized quilts from the South Jersey Quilts of Valor Foundation, and Mayor Jay Gillian will present the families with a ceremonial key to the city.
Other gifts will include free beach and parking passes for Ocean City, restaurant dinners and gift baskets from the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, and free passes to the Cape May County Zoo.
“Post 524 is proud to welcome this year’s R&R families,” said committee co-chair Jerry Bonner. “We thank all our members — Veterans, Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion — for their many contributions to these deserving, patriotic families.”
The families being awarded trips are the Henke family, Laberdee family and Pecson family.
US Navy Military Police Officer Terry Laberdee Jr. will be accompanied by his wife, Alicia-Clark Laberdee, their son Nathan, 14, and daughters Raven, 10, and Harper, 6.
US Air Force Technical Sgt. Justin Henke and Master Sgt. Cynthia Henke will bring their son Cooper, 3, and daughter Magnolia, 1.
US Air Force Senior Airman Mary Jane Pecson will bring her husband Ralph and daughters Lucia, 16, and Luna, 13.
