By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
In 2010, Sea Isle City enhanced the grandeur of the monument in Veterans Park by attaching a colonnade to the structure and beautifying its fountain.
Although it is generally not well known, the fountain is helping to pay for the flags and wreaths that decorate the park during ceremonies throughout the year honoring the nation’s veterans and war dead.
How? Take a peek into the waters ringing the monument and you’ll see the shimmering silver and copper coins tossed into the fountain by countless people hoping for good luck.
“It is a full range of coins – pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
The coins are collected from the fountain by the city and donated to Sea Isle’s VFW Post 1963, which in turn uses the money to buy flags and wreaths that decorate Veterans Park as well as the graves at the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery in Cape May Court House.
“In cooperation with Sea Isle City’s administration, along with the efforts of VFW Post 1963, we are very happy to have them donate money to us so we can provide flowers and flags,” said Tim MacAleer, Post 1963’s vice commander.
Neither Custer nor MacAleer could say Thursday how much is collected from the fountain each year. But both of them noted that no matter how much money it is, it is helpful in maintaining Veterans Park as one of the town’s centerpieces.
“The coins put in the fountain by people making wishes go toward making Veterans Park beautiful,” Custer said. “That park serves as one of the most beautiful features on the island.”
Improvements to the monument and Veterans Park were part of Sea Isle’s “Beach to Bay Project,” a sweeping overhaul of the main corridor into town to provide a more inviting entryway and new amenities for residents and visitors.
Veterans Park was given a $677,000 makeover in 2010 with the addition of columns to surround the monument, a grander fountain, landscaping, decorative lighting and a stone wall that doubles as seating for spectators during memorial events.
The monument serves as the setting for Sea Isle’s annual Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Patriot Day and National POW-MIA Recognition Day ceremonies. However, the city has been holding those ceremonies virtually this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sea Isle created a video tribute in honor of Veterans Day on Wednesday. Although there was no in-person ceremony for Veterans Day, the monument was still decorated with colorful wreaths and miniature American flags – thanks to the partnership between the city and VFW Post 1963 to use coins collected from the fountain as a funding source.
“We are always happy to get the change,” MacAleer said.
