MEMORIAL DAY: Wrap-up with PHOTOS

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

Atlantic City Press provided a brief mention of Ventnor in this article

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/1...ry/167945.html

... and more coverage, a day earlier, with this brief profile of Ventnor's Russell Smith.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/1...ry/167319.html

Excerpt:

"Mr. and Mrs. Michael McGowan, of 240 Chestnut St., Pleasantville, have been advised that their son, Walter T. McGowan, was killed in action on invasion day. He entered the army in May, 1942, and received his initial training at Camp Lee, Va. The McGowans have 10 sons, five of whom have been serving in the Army and Navy, and two daughters."

That is an Atlantic City Press report in its entirety about a local soldier dying in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. For the folks back home, McGowan's story may have been lost in the hundreds of similar dispatches that filled the pages of The Press in the years of World War II - another son who died in the war. For the McGowans, Memorial Day suddenly had new meaning.
Today, the growing number of families whose sons and daughters were killed while serving the nation in Iraq will respect the meaning of Memorial Day as the McGowans did. It's a respect perhaps understood best by some of the servicemembers who did come home alive. Every town has its own: a veteran who makes sure that Memorial Day is about those who didn't come home ... and not the ones who did.

In Ventnor, one of those men is Russell Smith, quartermaster with VFW Post 3361, where there have been 53 Memorial Day services at the same corner. Smith has been there for 52 of them, missing only one while visiting his daughter, who was in the service in California. Like his brethren, Smith is quick to emphasize that the day is not about him and is equally quick to pass along credit to others who help arrange Memorial Day services in his and other towns.

But Smith is adamant about one thing: Even if it's only one or two people who come to stand at the corner of Dorset and Fulton avenues, he'll make sure Memorial Day is about the men and women who died serving our country.

So today, before you cast that first fishing line of the unofficial summer season, crack open that first beer and catch those first rays, take some time to thank the veterans such as Smith who remind us to remember. But above all, let's pause for a moment to remember - and thank - the neighbors who never came home to Millville, Mays Landing, Cape May and all the towns and cities in between.

WLV's photos of the day begin at VFW Hall and the ceremonies that started at 11AM ...

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

In addition to outgoing and incoming Ventnor City Commissioners, Sen. Jim Whelan's presence was mentioned at the ceremonies. He's seen here, at center, chatting with a constituent.

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

St. James Hall was the scene of a gathering to which all of Ventnor was invited, to meet the new city administration.

Russell Smith of the VFW led a round of patriotic music, with the signature songs of each branch of the military, and ending with 'God Bless America.'





Attendees were greeted outside by the spirit of the new volunteerism in Ventnor, as an array of citizens' advisory committees on Environment, Communications, Beautification, 'Many Districts - One Ventnor', Multi-Cultural Affairs, Improvements and the like invited citizen sign-ups and involvement.

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

Grilling outside, and seating both outside and inside, provided space for a robust turnout.







One candidate for 'most patriotic outfit' ....

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

And, one last glance, in closing .......

[Seagull]

Who's the cakemaster? That fancy cake should get a prize. and who is Mr. America, the patriotic outfit?








eVOICE ADMIN: MaryLou DeAngelo baked the cake. Mr. America can speak up and identify himself, but his haberdasher is to be congratulated. He has a perfect outfit for every occasion. Thanks to his biking pastime, the Tour de Ventnor also found him well attired with the proper fabric.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...r/IMGP3203.jpg