Internet photo

Ocean Grove July 4 , 2018. Paul Goldfinger photo.  His white  shirt says, “Freedom is not Free.”  ©

Blogfinger photo. July 4, 2018.  Ocean Grove Main Avenue.  ©

Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net

What this national holiday is supposed to commemorate is the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by delegates from the 13 colonies.

This is the day we are supposed to be celebrating  the birth of the United States of America.

The  Ocean Grove  parade on July 2  is sponsored  by the OG Camp Meeting Association. They call it the “Independence Parade,” but that is not the actual theme which the sponsors have in mind.  Look what they do and not what they say.    They should have named this event “Ocean Grove Day.”  And, they should be honest as to what they mean by “Ocean Grove.”

In the official CMA document regarding the “Independence Weekend” they say, “Our annual parade is an event symbolic of the rich tradition and customs that make Ocean Grove unique.”    What?

They also say, “The parade and evening concerts are opportunities for us to gather as a community and celebrate the wonderful things and people that make Ocean Grove a special place to live, work and visit.”

“We are inviting parade participants to help us celebrate Ocean Grove’s special community  by incorporating visual elements or musical selections that invoke the tradition of Ocean Grove, the theme of community and/or express what Ocean Grove means to you.”

But the CMA statement does not mention the real reason for an Independence Day parade.

The participants in the parade include not a single true marching band  (a terrible omission), no active military, no Boy Scouts , or Girl Scouts, no Cub Scouts waving flags in uniform, no Neptune HS band with their color guard, no fireworks, and nothing to visibly celebrate the birth of the United States of America, except perhaps the two color guards and flags waving all over town.

But there will be religious figures, politicians,  and advertisements by real estate agents, a plumber, corn growers, a landscaping company,  and an assisted living facility.

However thank goodness for all the enthusiastic  flag wavers in the crowd and all the marchers who will  joyously celebrate America and wear the flag.

Next year the Township should take over this event and they should invite all citizens of Neptune Township.  The audience and the marchers should represent America and not just OG.

As a veteran and a patriot, I say we should have a parade and not a charade.

KURT ELLING  “An American Tune”