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Appreciation Celebration
Second annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day sends up cheers and tears
T
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
n PHOTOS BY ED CARATTINI JR.
ributes flowed and praise filled the hall
when the second annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (LEAD) came to
the Performing Arts Center at Neptune High
School on Jan. 9. But the essence of the event
emerged when a fifth grader from Kearney
stepped up to read his winning entry in the
“What Law Enforcement Means to Me”
essay contest that highlighted the event.
“What’s not to appreciate?” asked John
Kubowicz, a cub scout with Pack 305 in Kearney. The essay contest prompted girl scouts,
boy scouts and cub scouts to cite their
thoughts of thanks and appreciation to law
enforcement officers, many of whom were
on hand to hear the words of inspiration at a
time when they could really use some well
wishes.
“When you listen to these kids, it makes
you want to get up every morning and be
part of the solution,” said NJ State PBA
Fourth Vice-President Mike Pellegrino who
was the master of ceremonies. “If each and
every one of us can do that, the world would
be a great place.”
It was that kind of day to feel good about
“When you listen to these kids, it makes you want to get up every
morning and be part of the solution. If each and every one of us
can do that, the world would be a great place.”
MIKE PELLEGRINO
being a law enforcement officer and what
law enforcement officers can accomplish.
The event was presented by Garden State
Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and
Garden State Survivors of the Triangle, and it
attracted a stage full of law enforcement dignitaries, including NJ State PBA President
Pat Colligan.
Colligan shared a personal anecdote of
inspiration that occurred the night before
when he was driving home from an event.
On the highway, he noticed a burning
vehicle and quickly pulled over to make sure
that help was available to the motorist. NJ
State Troopers were on the scene seconds
later to assist.
And this was the type of dedication that
everybody was on hand to celebrate on this
day. Tara Sullivan, a trustee for Garden State
C.O.P.S., spoke about the significance of
LEAD and culminated with a story about
getting a flat tire on the way to the event and
how Neptune officers helped her change the
tire and made sure she got to the high school
in plenty of time.
Cunningham was part of the team that
brought the essay contest to Law Enforcement Appreciation Day this year as what she
called the best way she could think of to
express appreciation to law enforcement.
“Reading those essays was the best thing
I’ve done in a very long time,” she told the
crowd. “These kids are going to come up and
read their winning essays in a few minutes,
and I can tell you our future is very secure.
Get ready to shed a tear.”
Before the next teardrop fell, a couple of
law enforcement appreciators stepped up to
express their, well, appreciation.
Dave Paulis of the 200 Club of Ocean
County praised officers for their valor and
meritorious service, for going above and
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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