TO THE EDITOR:
This morning , May 13, 2021, this is what happened to Broadway…At every juncture where there is a pole, a truck came through and erected two flags bearing the name NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP?!?
I find the idea of those flags flying along the gateway to OCEAN GROVE quite upsetting!
So please file this under WHO AUTHORIZED THIS? And AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO IS OFFENDED?
LORI PRESS, OCEAN GROVE
The writer is a resident of Broadway.
THE CAST OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S FOLLIES:
Let there be lights. Thanks David. PG
Oh, the flags are gone.
Broadway originally did not have the grassy islands one sees today. They first appear on a postcard used in 1909 in the collection of the HSOG. Prior to this, Broadway was a wide expanse of pavement of clay and gravel with perhaps the addition of oyster shells. The street lights did not appear until the islands.
Years ago when storm drainage was the BIG issue for Broadway, I heard a Township committee person mention at an OGHOA membership meeting that Neptune wanted to beautify Broadway, and this might include some “beautiful banners” to hang from lamp posts. At the time, the cynic in me silently muttered “tacky.”
As in true Neptune fashion, it took a few years to bring the banner idea to fruition.
Has no one noticed that some of the stars aren’t even visible? What’s up with that? On each flag there’s an entire row of five stars that is completely obscured by the loop of material that’s used to hang the flag on the horizontal posts and a row of four that’s partially obscured. If we’re going to talk about the right way to mount a flag how can this be overlooked?
In reply to Art James query, why the flags at this time?…could it be that Memorial Day is in a couple of weeks, and the Fourth of July soon after?
Dear Jack, I am well aware of the fact that Ocean Grove is part of the larger community of Neptune Township and Monmouth County, so perhaps a small banner recognizing our county would also be appropriate.
I think tomorrow I just might drive through SHARK RIVER HILLS, BRADLEY PARK, the GABLES, MID-Town and maybe even SEAVIEW ISLAND to see if they have those banners on their streets.
Concerning the respect for our country’s flag, somebody should inform the Town Committee that it is disrespectful to hang the American flag incorrectly and they should have known better.
Pbenjay
The property your cottage was built on has been part of Neptune Township ever since 1879.
The flags, as you say, announcing “You are now in Neptune Township”, are correct.
There is no Township, or Borough of Ocean Grove,
we in OG all live in Neptune Township.
Of all the things in Neptune Township that need attention including their parks in OG who in the heck decided arbitrarily that it would be a good idea to spend time and money to hang those banners on Broadway?
I’m sure no one is objecting to the American flag, but why Neptune
And in any case why those flags in that place at this time?
To Jean and Jack Bredin, this American citizen is NOT offended by the American flag – in fact there is now and is always an American flag flying in front of my cottage! And my father and Godfather fought in WWII and my brother served in Vietnam. Furthermore those flags are hung INCORRECTLY regardless the direction you are traveling on Broadway. These are hung like the
BANNERS they are – announcing “you are now in Neptune Township” and I for one thought I bought my cottage in Ocean Grove. I understand we have an agreement, a contract, or whatever that allows us to share in their public services for which we pay for in tax dollars!! But I don’t feel that gives them the right to plaster banners with their name and a logo on our streets.
Neptune has a sign on Rt 33 referring to the Grove as their “historic district.” But that’s a joke because those Neptuners have no interest in Ocean Grove’s history or well being. They are mostly interested in us as a “cash cow.” I doubt that those 5 Committee people ever set foot in town unless they are marching in a parade and waving to the crowd.
Dr. No, the mayor, recently disgraced the flag when he decided that the Township should investigate all employees including police to find out if any of them might have had anything to do with the storming of the Capitol.
And we have a photo of him showing developers around at the North End. Thanks to him and his crew, the zoning at the North End was illegally changed to allow the pending monstrosity to be built, to the detriment of Ocean Grove.
I would agree that there are better ways to display the flag. If the hanging is printed on both sides, then a mistake in the orientation was clearly made. If not, then it would depend on whether you are viewing the front or backside. The money would have been better spent enhancing the Neptune Township war memorial at the Broadway entrance.
I believe that people may feel that Neptune has desercrated the American flag by sticking their logo on it. It cheapens the American symbol.
Since Neptune has refused to enforce federal ADA parking laws, I find it disgusting to think that they are using the American flag to promote and flaunt the fact they are violating federal law and our 14th amendment rights by refusing to represent us equally within Neptune’s zoning.
Cut off the Neptune part and I think people would be happy with the flags. The way it is now, it is disgraceful and an insult to those that gave their lives whose names are carved on the monument at the entrance to Ocean Grove.
Any American citizen who is “OFFENDED” by the American Flag, is offensive to us, and the millions who have fought and died for
this Flag.
When hung vertically, the field of stars should always be to the observer’s upper left.