Every once in a while you get the opportunity to see where no matter what is happening in the country, in the world, or in politics, when it gets right down to it, you get a glimpse into the youth of today that gives you comfort that they will do just fine as leaders of tomorrow.
It happened to me twice in two days.
After the funeral for a well respected and loved gentleman, there was a repast with a buffet overflowing with a variety of great food. A young teenage boy, the decedent’s grandson, piled his plate filled with mashed potatoes. He turned to a staff member who was smiling broadly, enjoying the fact he was enjoying his meal, and he said, “these are just the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had. I love them. If I take this much, will there still be enough for everyone else?”
Assured that there was more than enough, with an invitation to come back for more when he finished that, the youngster smiled, said thanks and sat down with his family to capture one small comfort after the death of his grandfather… The Youth of Today
The following day, in church, I met a charming mom with her six children, three older girls and three young boys. Visitors from Virginia, they said they were here to visit with their grandfather, who was extremely ill and near death in the hospital. They chatted a bit about everything from their home in the state that has produced more Presidents than any other, the famed ancestors from Highlands and their visit in the hospital with their grandfather, and their sad farewells to a man they obviously love and respect.
Then the oldest daughter, in a soft voice, graciously deflecting all the praise put on the family for their courtesy, their friendliness and their faith, added, “would you please just say a prayer for our grandfather?” The Youth of Today
You simply don’t expect so much maturity and affection from the youth of today
“What five traditional societies tell us about parenting and children’s learning”
By Cornelius N. Grove
Published by Rowman & Littlefield, 2006
How Other Children Learn, A deep, thoughtful and provocative book that shows in detail how five traditional societies not affected by modern values and ways of life raise their children and oversee their learning. How Other Children Learn is not a book for everyone, but certainly a book to make parents think, especially in view of outrages across the country in so many boards of education today.
The five cultures are the AKA, hunter-gatherers of Africa; the Highland Peru Quechua, the Navajos, the Village Arabs of the Levant and the Hindu Villagers of India.
After depicting the impacts and the differences among the five societies, including the Navajo from the Southwest and the Cuechua from Peru, How Other Children Learn also cites anthropologists’ finds and why children in these societies willingly carry out family responsibilities.
The author concludes with several books he suggests for further reading, as well as a five page bibliography. But more importantly, How Other Children Learn ends it with the provocative question: “Can we take a step or two back, thereby releasing opportunities for our children to explore and learn on their own?
The author’s question follows his belief and documentation that today’s children have few opportunities for self-guided expression and observation…the tools each of these societies used in educating their children. He points out that even in today’s parenting, parents can and should make individual differences. His conclusion is that traditional parents parent as little as possible; modern parents parent as much as possible.
Grove concedes we do, and should shield our children from stress, danger and iniquity. But he also wonders whether we should evaluate our standards, step back and look how societies have handled that. We try to shelter our children from frustration, anger or jealousy by providing each with a trophy, regardless of whether it is earned. Is that right, he questions?
He points out areas where we believe childhood should be a time of fun, fantasy, playfulness and innocent of any cares, rather than preparing them for an adult life full of problems and situations they must face and know how to conquer. Other societies include their children in their activities, not actually involving them so much as surrounding them with adult activities, thereby enabling children to learn from observation.
Societies where the family farmed, or foraged had to include their children; today’s work opportunities prevent that. Ancient society families had foundations of many in the family and extended family; today’s parents can limit the number of children, can live far from other family members, can put their children in care centers and day cares.
Traditional societies believe in obedience, respect, fulfillment of obligations, keeping the family’s needs and desires far ahead of the individual child’s. Many families today hasten through dinner, grab something off the counter or in the car to ensure their child gets to soccer practice or dance school.
Children learn through their parents, as well as from others. They learn culture, they are not born with it.
Values are preferences so therefore are a part of culture. What a parent teaches his child about values is how he established the child’s culture. And that influences his behavior both as a child and later in life as an adult making his own cultural decisions based on his values.
How Other Children Learn is filled with information, citations, other references, great stories about five different societies, and much to think about. How Other Children Learn isn’t a book you take to peruse on the beach. But it is a fact-filled education in parenting, children’s learning, and the future as we teach our children.
Certainly worth far more than the price of the paperback version. I recommend it.
It is the oldest of all the awards presented to Armed Forces. It is also one of the most recognizable.
And in World War II alone, it was awarded to more than one million men and women from all branches of the service.
August 7 is a day set aside to honor the Purple Heart military citation.
The Purple Heart started in 1782 when General George Washington saw the need to encourage troops fighting for the country in the Continental Army. With a shortage of supplies and food, coupled with tough battles and low pay, the General felt at least recognizing valor, meritorious service and heroic actions would be a psychological boost for the fighting forces.
So the cloth purple heart, to be worn over the left breast and known as the Badge of Military Merit, was created. It was August 7, 1782.
This was something new, recognizing the service of the common soldier. At the time, most awards and medals were reserved for great commanders or national leaders.
Yet over the next 150 years, the Badge of Military Merit was apparently forgotten. Between the Revolution and World War I, only three were issued, according to federal records.
Only the Congressional Medal of Honor could be earned by soldiers and officers. And with its high standards and reasons, few could receive that. With other Allied and Axis nations recognizing their fighting forces with any number of medals for a variety of service and merit, Congress then created the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal.
But in 1932, Douglas MacArthur was the Army Chief of Staff and General MacArthur wanted more for his men. Reaching back into history, he changed the name of the Badge of Military Merit and called it the Purple Heart in a General Order 3 issued Feb. 22, 1932, the birthday of the General who had instituted it. It was to be presented for meritorious or valorous service in the US Army.
Soldiers presented with the medal during WW I had also gotten a chevron to be attached to the lower right sleeve of his uniform, one chevron for each wound. Because of the number of chevrons earned in this manner, that idea ended shortly.
By the beginning of World War II approximately 78,000 Purple Hearts were issued to US Army personnel who had been wounded, with records making it possible to site recipients as far back as the Civil War. At that time, a soldier need only apply and explain his reason for being cited.
But it was still only an award for Army soldiers.
That changed in April, 1942, less than six months after Pearl Harbor threw the United States into the War to end all wars.
The War Department saw the need to have the Purple Heart issued to service members who were killed in action as recognition of their sacrifice. Meritorious service was eliminated as a qualification for the Purple Heart, and a newly created Legion of Merit was established to honor those military.
The Purple Heart could only be awarded for being wounded or killed by enemy action.
Within months, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the Navy Department to award the Purple Heart to any Navy, Marine, or Coast Guard personnel who were wounded or killed in action. He directed the award be given to those earning back dating back to December 7, 1941.
The Purple Heart is the highest award automatically given to an officer or enlisted person as soon as criteria are met, with no proposal or review. And it can be awarded multiple times for multiple wounds on separate occasions.
The Purple Heart has since been presented during Korea, Vietnam, and terrorism conflicts.
It is a vivid sign of often hidden signs of what a brave man or woman has endured for their fellow man.
The 19th annual Ms Race sponsored by the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club for the benefit of 180 Turning Livesround is set for Saturday, Aug. 19 beginning at 8 a.m.
‘Women Wind Warriors’ is the theme of this year’s event, with boats of different sizes welcome with all female crews. Co-chairmen of the Ms Race are Diane Kropfl and Emily Smith, who can be reached for further information at ahyc.ms.race@gmail.com
Recognized as the leading all women’s sailing race in the state, the Ms Race is a Pursuit Race in which each boat will have its own start based on its PHRF-MA rating, eliminating any problems as the start, with smaller boats beginning first, followed by the larger, faster boats. The first boat across the finish line is the winner.
Sailors without a boat but interested in participating as crew can contact the committee at ahyc.ms.race@gmail.com for further information.
As in previous races, there will be two divisions, Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker.
The Ms. Race partners with the Atlantic Highlands Sailing Education Program (AHSEP) to include young women as crew members on participating boats. For women of all ages sailing can build confidence and self-reliance, and the goal of increasing participation of AHSEP students in the Ms. Race is an ongoing and rewarding endeavor.
A celebration beginning at 5:30 for all sailors and an awards ceremony will follow the Sandy Hook Bay race at the Yacht Club, above the Shore Casino at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor. A DJ will be present, nautical gifts will be on sale, and a raffle of a variety of items including football tickets and a 50-50 will also be featured.
180 Turning Lives Around is a Monmouth County private non-profit organization committed to ending domestic violence, providing a safe haven for its victims, and helping rebuild shattered lives. The Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club has been a huge supporter of the organization and its goals since its first race MS Race in 2005; all proceeds from the race as well as associated events are given to the non-profit organization.
It was a group of women sailors who started the Ms Race in 2005 with the goal of supporting and promoting the participation of women in sailing and to benefit 180 Turning Lives Around. The New Jersey Yacht Racing Association has recognized the Ms. Race as the best women only race in New Jersey. Membership in the Yacht Club is not a requirement for participation in the Ms Race. Inquiries about membership, however, are always welcome.
For more information about the race, registration forms and photos from past races, please visit the Yacht Clubs Website
The Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club was founded in 1953 and holds racing events throughout the season.
Tickets are still available for the Aug. 6 three hour cruise aboard the Navesink Queen for the benefit of the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society.
The paddlewheel boat, with Capt. Dan Schade at the wheel, will leave the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor from Frank’s Pier at noon, with boarding beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Local historian Muriel J. Smith will be guest lecturer for the cruise and will talk about both legends from ghosts to ship captains as well as men and women of the Bayshore who have become legends in their own time, including actors and actresses, sports figures and American heroes of past wars.
The three hour cruise will go up the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers, cruise past historic Fort Hancock and Raritan Bay.
Tickets, which are $75,, include the tour as well as snacks and lunch. A cash bar will be available for beverage purchases. No outside coolers, food or drink are permitted to be brought aboard the Navesink Queen. Tickets can be purchased on the Historical Society site, www.ahhistgory.org/gift-shop
Barbara King, well-known pianist and vocalist will be presenting a musical background at the Candlelight and Cocktails event slated for Tuesday, Aug. 1 at the Wine Bar, 40 First Avenue.
The talented performer, who appears regularly in Newark as well as along the Jersey Shore and in Florida, will present some musical interludes at the event sponsored by Atlantic Highlands Strong, the Republican candidates for Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council seats in the November election.
Councilman Jim Murphy heads up the trio seeking seats in November, with Murphy running for the mayoral post for the first time, along with council candidates Ellen O’Dwyer and Vinnie “Coach” Whitehead, both of whom are seeking the two three-year terms to be decided at the polls.
Atlantic Highlands Strong is the trademarked campaign name for the GOP, and all three candidates will be at Candlelight & Cocktails to meet with local residents, answer questions, and share a champagne toast and other cocktails.
Tickets for the event, which runs from 6 to 8 p. m. range from $125 to a variety of sponsors tickets ranging in prices up to $1,000. Each of the sponsorships also include admission to Candlelight & Cocktails.
Ticket price includes an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and appetizers stations with a variety of delicacies and cheeses.
Tickets are available by email to ahstrong09@gmail.com or by callings 732-447-8108. Persons not able to attend but wanting to make donations to the campaign can visit www.ahstrong.org and click on DONATE.
Deadline for filing for election to the Board of Education in Monmouth County municipalities is Thursday, July 31 at 4 p.m.
Petitions are obtained from and filed with the Clerk of Elections Office.
Any questions regarding school nominating petitions can be directed to the Clerk , 300 Halls Mill Road in Freehold, by phone at 732-431-7790 or email to ClerkOfElections@co.monmouth.nj.us.
In Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, voters get to vote in two school board elections. There will be one seat on the ballot for a three year term and one for a one-year unexpired term on the Henry Hudson Board for Highlands voters to decides. At the Highlands Board, here are three three-year terms to be decided.
Atlantic Highlands voters will also have three seats to be decided on the local board of education, each for a three year term, and two seats on the Henry Hudson ballot, each for three year terms.
After more than two months of waiting, the National Park Service has now reported it will be at least another month before ADA signage and some improvements can be made at Sandy Hook beaches for persons who have mobility problems.
It will take a longer, undetermined length of time to provide a mobility mat for access to the beach for disabled persons as well as signage along the road indicating where ADA sites are available at the national recreation area.
Surprisingly, in an e-mail to Congressman Frank Pallone, a park official also conceded the one area that appears to be ADA accessible really is not, so signs cannot be posted there.
Queries to the national park as to where a person in a wheelchair could actually see the Atlantic Ocean along the seven mile strip were unanswered until Congressman Pallone began to seek further information to help a handicapped constituent.
Questions arose when a local resident with need for a wheelchair learned she could not simply sit in a car on Sandy Hook and view the ocean, but had to access some area with a wheelchair in order to enjoy the view.
Because of the sea wall and the breadth of Sandy Hook past the end of the sea wall, there are no areas where it is possible to see the ocean while traveling in a vehicle along Sandy Hook. Several places have views of the Shrewsbury River and Sandy Hook Bay, but parking for these sites are also a distance away and across the trafficked roadway.
One site was found at Area B parking, where there is a well constructed deck on top of the seawall. The deck affords spectacular views of the ocean to the horizon as well as New York Harbor and Manhattan.
The ramp to that deck is dirt and stone at the base, and with a slightly steep grade, but accessible by wheelchair with a chair driver pushing the chair up the ramp. The area is clearly marked with several handicapped only signs at the base of the ramp. But there are no signs saying the ramp is there as well.
There can’t be, a spokesman for Sandy Hook said. That’s because the path that provides access to that deck does not meet accessibity standards for grade or material, although it was built by the National Park service.
To make it correct, the park service would have to install several steps and it would result in a more involved project. Because of the work that type of new project entails, it could possibly be finished in time for the 2024 season. However, the newly completed access would have to be evaluated and undergo an ADA review, something the current ramp apparently did not do, so that is not a firm commitment..
There are mobility mat accesses to the beach at Areas D, E and G, however, information has not be available. Beginning some time next month, information concerning obtaining beach wheel chairs will be added at the plaza.
ADA directional signage will also be provided along the road and at the entrances to Areas D, E, G and within the parking areas. Signage is currently being designed in keeping with Gateway’s sign standards, and the target date for completion and installation has been set at mid-August.
Looking to long term improvements to help persons in wheelchairs, an accessible mobility mat will need to be purchased to provide access to the beach at Area C. and information concerning obtaining beach wheel chairs will be added at the plaza area. ADA directional signage will also be provided along the road and at the entrances to Area C, though no date for completion has been set for any of this work.
Extra officers on duty, patience, teamwork and hydration all helped Highlands Police Department get through a weekend where traffic was backed up on Route 36 the entire length of Highlands, through Middletown and into Atlantic Highlands as beach goers headed to Sandy Hook and long waits to pay fees at the entrance to Gateway National Recreation Area Saturday and Sunday.
“I don’t think there is any good way to facilitate the thousands of vehicles passing through our small town, “ said Police Capt. George Roxby, who headed up operations over the weekend. “We appreciate the patience of our residents, and I can assure you we are doing the absolute best we can to ensure the safety of our roadways.” The captain added that “It is paramount we keep traffic flowing on all of our side streets as well in the event that fire or first aid needs to get through.”
In appreciating local residents’ cooperation with the added strain on their routines, Roxby noted “Highlands locals know to watch the weather on a summer weekend and plan accordingly….”just like they know to watch the wind tides and moon during a storm.”
It’s all part of “being a Highlander,” the captain said pragmatically.
But the extremely heavy traffic load, which spilled onto Linden Avenue, Bay avenue, Shore Drive, and numerous other smaller streets in the borough as well as Valley and Highland Avenues and Miller St on the hill meant Chief Robert Burton, anticipating the traffic in view of weather predictions, assigned six police officers to work from 8 a.m. to 4 Sunday, including the three officers and one Special Enforcement officer usually on duty during a summer weekend. The department also used “Bayshore Distracted Driver” grant funding for the additional officer and changed the shift of one special Class II officer to supplement the day shift.
Four officers were deployed on foot for most of the day, Roxby said, focusing on the east bound lane of Route 36. Three officers were on or near the Capt. Joseph Azzolina Bridge, and at the intersection of Portland Rd and the bridge while the fourth officers was near the Miller St. and Route 36 intersection, all focusing on keeping the left lane moving east on Route 36. The officer at the Miller St. Intersection also had to ensure the intersection had to be kept clear to avoid further backup on Highland Ave.
At the same time, other officers on duty continued to answer calls for service throughout the borough, enforced traffic and parking regulations, and handled other issues, rotating with the officers on Route 36 traffic control for needed breaks.
“A major problem we encounter is people stopping in the left lane in order to attempt to merge into the right lane for entry to Sandy Hook,” Roxby said, completely blocking off the left lane and creating further backups.
Police report there were no injuries due to traffic and only one unrelated EMS call in the borough during the day shift.
In addition to keeping water in the vehicles, and being rotated through breaks, police also had additional water delivered to their stations throughout the day to ensure their own protection from the soaring temperatures and hot sun.
While Roxby could not give an estimate of how many vehicles passed through the borough Sunday, he noted that WAZE and GPS systems suggested side streets to avoid traffic buildup. As a result, motorists took the jug-handle at Linden Avenue, or cut across the median at Waterwitch Ave to get down to Bay Avenue then travel along Bay Avenue to access the bridge from Portland Road and Highland Ave.
However, because of a buildup on Bay Avenue from the lines of cars attempting to cut into traffic at the highway, police did close entry to the bridge from that ramp and directed cars to head west along Highland Avenue, for exit into east bound lanes of Route 36 through Miller Sgt. Or Valley Avenue. Around 11 a.m., that traffic also included churchgoers leaving Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church as well.
“While we understand this is frustrating to residents,” Roxby explained, “but if we don’t do it, we get gridlock on both Bay and Highland Avenues.” There is nowhere for them to go,” he explained, noting “If we allow vehicles to try to get onto the bridge from Portland rd. near the bridge, “it just about instantly gridlocks Bay and Highland Avenues. I understand not being allowed to go the way that one would normally go is frustrating but our number one priority is the safety of our residents,” Roxby said.
Between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Roxby said, 36 cars were stopped and 26 summonses were issued, along with another ten warnings for traffic violations.
Grateful for no serious incidents or long term problems, Capt. Roxby pointed out “most of the blame can be put on the fact we live in a beautiful location. We live in a congested state and people love the beach. “
He added it seems clear that bottlenecks are caused by all those motorists having to wait in line to pay at the Sandy Hook. “It would be extremely helpful to the local department and ease stress for residents, if they could get cars in faster,” conceding that in addition, “Less friction during their payment process would have people on the beach and off of the road faster, which to me sounds helpful.”
The officer said, the park service could explore the option of metered parking to enable a free flow access to the park. Roxby said the rangers working at the Sandy Hook booths do their absolute best and should not be blamed but “ finding a way to get people into the park faster would be beneficial to all of the surrounding towns as well as their customers.”
Both Chief Burton and Capt. Roxby expressed appreciation for the patience of borough residents and businesses, saying, “We can assure you that we are doing the absolute best that we can in the borough for the safety of our residents and our roadways. “
Receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism and bravery at the Battle of Guadalcanal apparently wasn’t enough for a Marine Sergeant who loved his country. Sgt. John Basilone survived that battle and was awarded the medal in May, 1942.
But after serving a year in the United States as a former Marine advancing the sale of war bonds throughout the country, John Basilone once gain received permission to re-enlist in July 1943 and was assigned to “C” Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment,8th Marine Division,
Eighteen months later, February 19, 1945, the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima he was serving as a machine gun leader on Red Beach II and once again showed his heroism. He was killed by a burst of small arms fire and for these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Marine Corps’ second highest decoration, the Navy Cross.
John Basilone is the only enlisted Marine who has been awarded the two highest honors for extraordinary heroism, the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross during World War II.
The son of immigrant Italian parents, Basilone was born in Buffalo, NY and brought up in Raritan with his nine brothers and sisters, attended St. Bernard’s Catholic school, but worked as a caddy in a golf course rather than go to high school.
Enlisting in the Army in July 1934, when he was just over 18 years of age, Basilone served in that branch for three years, serving in the Philippines and gaining fame as a champion boxer. He was discharged after his enlistment period and re-enlisted once again the following day.
After that enlistment, he returned to Raritan and worked as a truck driver but wanted to go back into service. This time, he joined the Marine Corps.
He was deployed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in August 1942, took part in the invasion of Guadalcanal. He and the two machine-gun sections under his command held off an attack by a numerically far superior Japanese force in spite of great loss. Only four Marines survived that battle, including Basilone. It is for this action at this invasion he earned the Congressional Medal.
After the award presentation for his Guadalcanal actions, Basilone returned to Raritan and toured the country for the government promoting war bonds. He continued to apply to be returned to the Marine Corps in spite of his injuries.
He was offered a commission, but he declined it. He was offered an assignment as an instructor; again, he turned it down. When his request was finally approved, he went to Camp Pendleton for more training, and on July 3, 1944, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps.
In February 1945, he was killed in action on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima, after he single-handedly destroyed an enemy blockhouse and led a Marine tank under fire safely through a minefield. Including the Medal of Honor.
Basilone married his wife, Lena, a sergeant in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in July 1944. She never remarried after his death and died in 1999 at age 86. She is burred at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. Sgt. Basilone is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His Medal of Honor is at the Marine Museum in Quantico, Virginia.
Sgt. Basilone has received numerous honors in his hometown, where there is an annual parade, the school gym is named in his honor and he is remembered annually in various ceremonies. Several military base streets, military facilities, and two United States Navy destroyers are named for him.
CITATION
For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942.
While the enemy was hammering at the Marines’ defensive positions, Sgt. Basilone, in charge of two sections of heavy machine guns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault.
In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. Basilone’s sections, with its gun crews, was put out of action, leaving only two men able to carry on. Moving an extra gun into position, he placed it in action, then, under continual fire, repaired another and personally manned it, gallantly holding his line until replacements arrived.
A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. Basilone, at great risk of his life and in the face of continued enemy attack, battled his way through hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment.
His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
