Memorial Day weekend signals the start of the summer tourism season in every seaside community. Avalon ensures that the true meaning of the holiday is recognized every year to remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy daily.
American Legion Post #331 (Stone Harbor/Avalon) and the Borough of Avalon present the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday, May 27th. The parade steps off promptly at 9:00am at 32nd Street and Dune Drive and proceeds north to Veterans Plaza, located at 21st Street and Dune Drive. The parade takes approximately 40 minutes before the start of the ceremony. Many Avalon civic and charitable organizations are part of the parade along with Post members and Avalon elected officials.
Avalon is honored to have a distinguished guest as our guest speaker during the ceremony. Retired Brigadier General Patrick M. Kennedy most recently served as the Assistant Adjutant General-Air, New Jersey National Guard and now serves as Superintendent of Veterans South Haven. Brig. Gen. Kennedy flew combat support in both Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He exercised command and control over 2,400 airmen comprised of two flying wings performing fighter and air refueling missions while serving as principal advisor to The Adjutant General on the execution of Air Guard assets.
Brig. Gen. Kennedy is well-decorated as the recipient of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, and various medals for his service for the State of New Jersey. Brig. Gen. Kennedy holds scholarly degrees from Stockton University and Rutgers University. We ask you join us for the ceremony and welcome Brig. Kennedy to our community.
During your summer visit to Avalon, we invite you to a tour of American Legion Post #331. The American Legion Post 331 was chartered on March 30, 1946. At the time of our organization, we received permission from Mr. and Mrs. Jesse D. Ludlam of Stone Harbor to name the new post in honor of their son, Private First Class (PFC) Steven C. Ludlam. PFC Ludlam was killed in action at the age of 19 near Ostheim, France on January 23, 1945. For his heroic action on that date, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, an award second only to the Medal of Honor. His brother, John Ludlam an Army Air Corps member, was a charter member of the new post.
Post 331 is unique primarily because it is fortunate enough to have been able to purchase and restore a deactivated U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) station that was formerly an 1895 U. S. Life-Saving Service (USLSS) station as its Post building. The building not only serves as a meeting place for legionnaires, but it also houses a life-saving museum on its first floor and a military museum on its second floor. The building’s tower offers a panoramic view of the southern part of Seven Mile Island (formerly Seven Mile Beach). American Legion Post 331 and Sons of The American Legion (S. A. L.) Squadron 331 members provide free tours of the historic building five days a week during the summer.