Ocean City Legion to Host 4th Returning Vet Family

Ocean City’s American Legion Post 524 will again salute the return of a U.S. serviceman and his family with a motorcycle parade, complimentary housing and a shower of gifts from local merchants on Saturday, Aug. 24. 

Staff Sgt. Matt Kruger of Kingston, NY, his wife Bridgette, and their two daughters, Kyla and Ava, will enjoy a week at “America’s Greatest Family Resort“ in celebration of his safe return from a third tour of duty, most recently in Afghanistan.

Kruger is the fourth serviceman this season to be hosted by the Morvay-Miley American Legion Post. A fifth family will be honored in September.

“Our intention is to invite service personnel who have recently returned from deployment overseas and their families for a one-week stay in O.C., “ said Veterans   R & R Committee Chairman Steve Cole. “Military family members are very important to our project, because the families always share in the sacrifice of deployed service members.” 

The R & R Program was started in spring 2012 when Ocean City Legion Post Commander Bob Marzulli called on Chris Mirena of Monihan Realty for a donation. Mirena had been an ardent supporter of Post 524 events and a generous donor to veterans causes.  By the conclusion of the visit, Mirena had offered use of his condominium to returning vets and their families for four weeks. He will do so again this fall. That was the catalyst the project needed.

Initially the project sought to honor returning service personnel with a local connection, but it has since expanded to a regional and even national scope. 

“We'll talk to anyone from anywhere,” said Cole. “The only restriction is that  the service member must be Grade E1 to E6 (lower enlisted ranks) or O1 or O2 (junior grade officers). These service members tend to be younger — with young families who would enjoy the many recreational activities in and around a resort community like Ocean City.”  

The Ocean City business community has been very generous donating the following items and services to the cause: 

• ShopRite ($100 gift cards and a custom banner thanking each visiting vet
• Acme ($100 gift cards)
• The Knights of Columbus ($25 gift cards to SuperFresh)
• Yesterday's ($50 gift cards)
• The Windjammer ($50 gift card)
• Sack ‘O Subs ($25 gift cards)
• Chester's Bakery - Somers Point (sticky buns)
• Mallon’s (sticky buns)
• Spinning Wheel Florist (a bouquet of flowers for each of the wives)
• G&T Linens (bed linens for each visitor)
• KJ Prints (a photo shoot on the beach and boardwalk for each visiting family)
• Shriver’s (a variety of goodies for each family)
• The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce (a basket of local goodies for each family)
• The Ocean City Aquatics and Fitness Center (a weekly activity pass for each family)
• The Ocean City Municipal Golf Course (a weekly golf pass)
• The City of Ocean City (a Proclamation of Thanks, presented by Mayor Jay Gillian)
• The American Legion Auxiliary (pre-made dinners)
• Dennis Egan Chevrolet (oil changes, car detailing, car washes)
• Duke Of Fluke Fishing (4-hour fishing trips)

So far in 2013, three military families have been hosted by Post 524: Kandace and John Hurley from Logan Township, NJ, Gus and Suzann Rosado from Glassboro, NJ and Ron and Kelley Stroh from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 

The most recent visitors, Staff Sergeant Ron Stroh, his wife Kelly, their two children came to the Post’s attention through an article in the Poughkeepsie Journal. Friend of the Legion, Phil Marsh, a New York state resident who owns an Ocean City condo saw the newspaper article, got in touch with the returning service member and offered him use of his vacation home for a week. The American Legion caught wind of Marsh’s effort and jumped into action. 

Each family is first welcomed into Ocean City with a parade given by motorcycle riders from the Police and Fire Departments, along with riders from the American Legion. Then the merchant gifts are delivered to the donated condo.

“I believe we are the only American Legion Post nationwide that does this type of event,” said Chairman Steve Cole, with a smile.  “And, we're planning to do it again and again, until all the vets come home.”

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Biography of Staff Sgt. Matthew Kruger  

Born: Brooklyn, NY (1981)                                                                          Resides: Kingston, NY                                                                                 Enlisted: U.S. Army August 11, 2001 (one-month before 9/11)
Served: As Emergency Responder at The Twin Towers in NYC
Served: Active Duty in NYC for 6-years following 9/11
Served: Combat Tours in Kuwait and Iraq (2005 – 2007)
Served: Environmental Protection Agency Police Officer
Served: Re-Deployed to Afghanistan (2012)

— News release from American Legion Post 524