Survivor families gathered on the patio at Break-
water Beach Waterpark to hear dignitaries from NJ
law enforcement and state and local government
leaders express the importance of the event.
Garden State Concerns of Police Survivors John Ci-
uppa presented a plaque to the Storino family, the
owners of Breakwater Beach Waterpark, as a thank
you for hosting Survivors Day for 11 years.
PERMISSION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47
of the water park that day may have trav-
eled from across the state, but there was
no mistaking that they were family, fortu-
nately brought together under the most
unfortunate circumstances.
This family reunion was different than
any memorial service or visit to the wall
in Washington D.C. The 11th Annual Law
Enforcement Survivors Day at Seaside
Heights was once again a joyous occasion
spent with those who have been togeth-
er through the hard times and deserve to
celebrate some great ones.
“Sometimes, we have to give ourselves
permission to have a good time,” noted
State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan,
who hosted the ceremony that began Sur-
vivors Day. “We get together for somber
events, as we will never forget the ones
who gave their lives in the line of duty. But
on a day like today, we come away to the
Jersey Shore (to make) special memories
that will last a lifetime.”
Behind Callahan stood a line of dig-
nitaries from law enforcement and state
and local government who were present
to support Callahan’s statement that this
event is unlike the others.
“This is a day where you can smile,”
voiced Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph
Coronato. “But we can also appreciate the
fact that someone in our family or some-
one that we had a relationship with paid
the ultimate sacrifice.”
A day to smile. A place to relax, splash,
laugh and play. This vital family occasion
has become tradition due to the sponsor-
48
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ AUGUST 2018
ship of the NJ State Police Survivors of the
Triangle and Garden State Concerns of
Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and the sup-
port of the Storino family, the owners of
Breakwater Beach, who wanted to give
back to New Jersey’s law enforcement
survivors by providing a cost-free and
fun-filled day at their water park.
As the cabanas and locker rooms be-
gan to fill with other guests, the eyes of
the survivors wandered to the nearby at-
tractions. Which slide would they rush to
first? Or would they begin the day with a
float down the lazy river?
Before the full day of sun and splash
began, though, a special guest took the
opportunity to share a few words to the
nearly 70 families who gathered. Many of
the families who have attended Survivors
Day for years had never seen a New Jersey
governor make a visit. But Governor Phil
Murphy wouldn’t miss the chance with be
with the survivors, even if he wasn’t able
to ride down the slides himself.
“Today I’m reminded of that first ‘Sat-
urday Night Live’ episode after 9/11,
when Lorne Michaels started the show
standing on stage with (former) New York
Mayor Randolph Giuliani and asked, ‘Mr.
Mayor, do we have permission to laugh?’”
Murphy shared. “Today is one of those
days where we at one level have a heavy
heart, but on another level, we are out
here in this beautiful weather and we
have the opportunity to let our hair down.
I wish you an extraordinary day.”
A few short months ago, Adria Mc-
Meekin was at the National Law Enforce-
ment Officers Memorial upholding a
tradition that she began after her father
was killed in line of duty on March 4,
2005. Many Atlantic City Local 24 officers
who rode the Police Unity Tour to hon-
or Thomas McMeekin experienced the
emotion that emanated when Adria post-
ed a handwritten note to her father on the
wall where his name is inscribed. Local
24 members have also gotten to know the
McMeekin family through their atten-
dance at the memorial ceremony hosted
each year to honor officers like Thomas,
who made the ultimate sacrifice while on
the job in Atlantic City.
But at Survivors Day, the McMeekin
family arrived at Breakwater Beach wear-
ing smiles and flip-flops. Adria greeted
friends who have become like brothers
and sisters to her through years of attend-
ing C.O.P.S. events. She hugged Gracie
and Julia Preslar, who also lost their fa-
ther, Lakewood Local 71 member William
“Niche” Preslar, at a very young age.
“It shows Adria all of the love and
care out there with all that law enforce-
ment does for the families,” shared Trish
Mooney, who was Thomas’ aunt and god-
mother. “They’ll have a good time today.
It’s a family day.”
Survivors like Chatrain Shields viewed
a day at the water park as a family excur-
sion that she and her three kids would
have taken with her husband, Kieran
Shields, had he not made the ultimate
sacrifice in 2006 while on the job with the
Orange Police Department. After attend-
ing Survivors Day for the past six years,
her three kids insist that the outing in
Seaside Heights cannot be missed.