A Different Memorial Day Weekend in New Jersey

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Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli hosted the borough’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony in Memorial Park, but this year it was largely held virtually for viewers to watch at home. Courtesy YouTube/Betty Ann Berube

By Allison Perrine

MONMOUTH COUNTY – For many New Jerseyans, this was anything but a typical Memorial Day weekend amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the closure of bars and restaurants and restrictions on social gatherings and beach capacities, it was difficult to have the usual long holiday weekend surrounded by friends and family. However, despite it being different, members of the Two River community found ways to make it equally as special.

Memorial Day Services

Take Middletown Township, for example, which created a virtual Memorial Day Parade for its residents. On Monday, the township aired a compilation video of different community groups marching in front of their homes or in their yards, remaining socially distant while still appearing to be walking “together” by means of the video. Participants included committee members and their families, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, police, fire and more.

“While unfortunately we’re not able to celebrate Memorial Day together this year, we’re still able to celebrate this important, important holiday of all of our nation’s heroes who gave their life for our country,” said Mayor Tony Perry before the parade.

Similarly, Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli organized a Memorial Day parade May 25 and uploaded it to the borough’s social media platforms. He spoke about honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States, while remaining apart, together.

“I’m used to a Memorial Day parade strolling up and down the streets of Fair Haven with residents coming out to wave the American flag as sirens fill the air. I’m used to reaching out and getting to shake the hand of 98-year-old Fair Haven veteran Ray Taylor,” said Lucarelli. “As hard as it may be, we must make adaptations to our normal lives for the time being.”

Later in the virtual service, Fair Haven police stood 6 feet apart and presented the colors. Veteran Josh Zager, a retired U.S. Marine Corps member, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Remotely, Sophie Barabas performed the National Anthem. Borough administrator Theresa Casagrande announced the winner of an essay contest and several others spoke, remotely or in-person at the ceremony in Memorial Park, to highlight the importance of the day.

“Today, we celebrate Memorial Day in a very different way,” said Joe Perrotto, a Marine Corps veteran and 50-year resident of Fair Haven. “There are no parades, no crowds or large gatherings. No large picnics or barbecues. However, as Americans, we assemble in the spirit of silent prayer to pay tribute to the more than 1 million heroes who have lost their lives while serving their country since the American Revolution.”

Closer to the water, in Atlantic Highlands, officials hosted an in-person outdoor gathering limited to 25 people. Only two people spoke during the ceremony, said attendee Muriel Smith, and the national anthem and taps were played from a recording. Flags were raised to full-staff at noon, shortly after the ceremony.

“Everyone kept properly distant,” said Smith.

Sea Bright also had an outdoor wreath-laying ceremony with a limited crowd, live-streamed for anyone who wanted to watch from home. Aside from Mayor Brian Kelly, two veterans spoke that morning, including Rumson resident and Marine Corps veteran Garner Smythe.

“Now is a unique, unprecedented and harrowing time, but I think there’s solace and hope in events like this, coming together in whatever fashion we have to, to carry on longstanding traditions,” said Smythe. “Whether virtually or in person, your presence is important.”

Beach Openings

Things ran “smoothly” at Sandy Hook over the holiday weekend and beachgoers maintained their distance from one another, said Daphne Yun, National Park Service spokesperson. It was the first weekend that beaches reopened since the pandemic struck.

The cooler temperatures and cloudy skies added to the lower turnout at the beaches than normal, but Sandy Hook is only operating with 50 percent capacity to allow for proper social distancing. Typically, the park operates with a capacity of about 4,500, said Yun.

“We’re limiting it to approximately half that,” she said.

In Sea Bright, Donovan’s Reef owner Christine Carducci said things went well over the weekend. It is not fully up and running yet; the main building, deck and indoor bars are not open to the public. Right now, the business is operating its beach, food window and beach bar for takeaway drinks only.

“We really limited it for the first weekend to season badge holders,” she said, to see how things went and to maintain social distancing. Over the weekend, there were no more than 41 individuals on the beach at a time, and she clocked people coming in and out to keep track. Once the full establishment opens up Carducci anticipates that the maximum capacity will be 300 people, but that number is not definite.

Those who have Donovan’s Reef season beach badges will have priority for admittance to Donovan’s beach for now, but daily passes will be sold when space permits, said Carducci. 

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone issued a public letter Tuesday morning, thanking Shore town mayors for working hard over the past several weeks with the county to establish plans to safely reopen beaches and boardwalks to patrons.

“It was a pleasure to see most people adhering to the social distancing,
safety protocols and town guidelines that are in place,” said Arnone.

The article originally appeared in the May 28 – June 3, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.