TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Jeff Van Drew and Jim Beach that would allow municipalities to, by ordinance, provide free or reduced fee badges for beaches, bathing and recreational grounds to veterans was approved today by the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“Our veterans have sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedoms and liberties that we do in this country,” said Senator Van Drew (D-Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland). “While we honor them publicly at veterans’ ceremonies and Memorial Day celebrations, we must also think about the things we can do to make life a little easier for them throughout the year. Providing our veterans with free access to our beautiful beaches, or a break on the price of a badge is a small gesture to show our appreciation for their service, but it’s the right thing to do. This legislation ensures that towns and cities that wish to offer free or reduced price beach badges to veterans have the ability to do so and that those currently providing them are protected under state law from any challenges to the program.”
“The men and women who have served in the Armed Forces deserve the highest level of respect and honor from our citizens and from our state,” said Senator Beach, chair of the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee (D-Burlington, Camden). “This measure is one more way that we as a state can express our gratitude to the men and women who left behind their families and friends to serve our country, and remind them that the sacrifices they made so we can enjoy time with our own families in a safe and free society will never be forgotten.”
