NEW JERSEY COPS ■ AUGUST 2014
Weekend Warriors
49
Day at the Beach now more than just a ‘day’
■ BY JOSHUA SIGMUND
Life isn’t always a beach for America’s Wounded Warriors, so for more than five years, PBA members have
done what they can to show appreciation by hosting a
Day at the Beach, a titular understatement, since the festivities in Seaside Heights lasted the entire weekend of
July 25-27.
“Five or six years ago, we did our first (Day at the
Beach) and we had 30-or-so Warriors,” recalled Seaside
Heights Local 252 State Delegate Kevin Shouldis. “Last
year and this, it’s grown so much – about 180 Warriors
and their families plus a couple NJ Gold Star Mothers –
that the Warriors themselves got involved and rented
about 60 rooms at the Hershey Motel, allowing us a central location for everyone to hang out.”
On Friday, July 25, the guests of honor arrived in Seaside Heights and were served meals, cotton candy and
the families watched a movie on the beach. The next day,
everybody enjoyed beach access, waterpark rides,
arcades, ice cream and bounce houses. Local volunteer
firefighters donated their time and resources to set up a
scuba diving class on the beach.
“This was pretty well received,” noted Shouldis. “We
had triple amputees come – guys in pretty bad shape –
but they all had a nice time and we’re glad we could
accommodate them.”
The focal point of the weekend was the ceremony for
the Warriors that included an honor guard presence
made up of members of State Corrections Local 105 and
Ocean County Sheriff’s Local 379, an emotional rendition
of the National Anthem and a certificate presentation by
Shouldis and State PBA President Pat Colligan.
“We gave 40 certificates to each Warrior and Pat and I
shook their hands,” Shouldis said. “We also gave certificates to all the volunteers who helped make this possible.”
One of those volunteers was Shouldis’ father, Richard,
a veteran who served in the U.S. Army in the 1950s.
“He’s around 80,” said the younger Shouldis. “He lives
in retirement in Lakewood and strong-arms all his neighbors for donations that make this weekend possible.”
The weekend wrapped following a pool party with a DJ
and a barbeque hosted by Berkeley Township Sergeant
Jimmy Smith who owns a local catering business and
supplied the pig-de-resistance.
“Jimmy has been on board ever since the beginning,”
Shouldis acknowledged. “He used to pay out of his pocket, but now it’s gotten so big, the Warriors pay for (the pig)
and it didn’t last long, that’s for sure.” d
Members of State Corrections
Local 105 and Ocean County
Sheriff’s Local 379 served
honor guard duties.
Shouldis and State
A