MARGATE – The Board of Commissioners Thursday, Feb. 20 agreed to honor the city’s veterans in a way that would be highly visible to residents and visitors during the summer months.
Retired Superior Court Judge James Savio has been working with the city’s recycling coordinator, Anthony Edge, to create a program that would install banners honoring veterans on 17 utility poles that line the Parkway section of Ventnor Avenue between Lancaster and Vendome avenues.
According to the plan, the city would fund banners of veterans who have been decorated for heroic or meritorious service at a cost of about $2,600.
Savio said there are more than two dozen decorated veterans who meet the criteria. Following their service to the nation, some went on to become police officers, firefighters or lifeguards, he said.
Non-decorated veterans can be nominated by a loved-one with a fee of $150 to cover the cost of manufacturing the banner. The city would pick up an additional $20 to get them installed.
Savio said he would approach the Margate Chapter of Jewish War Veterans to be the program’s funding pass-through organization. He said he also spoke with the president of the Margate Log Cabin firefighters’ private club to hold a fundraiser there.
Savio said he already has 10 photographs of veterans decorated with Silver or Bronze Star, Purple Heart or was a POW. Their photos will be printed on 24- by 48-inch banners that will be attached to brackets on the poles. The banners will include the veteran’s rank, branch of service and years served. Permission will be required for all electric utility poles owned by Atlantic City Electric.
Savio said he is not sure how many other veterans have connections to the city or its public and private schools.
“Our biggest concern is leaving someone out,” he said.
Participants would need to provide proof of service by providing a DD-214 card, which can be obtained online, and a description of their connection to the city.
Savio said he would like the project to be completed in time for Memorial Day, when the city holds its annual Memorial Day Parade and Service along Ventnor Avenue. The banners would remain on the poles until after Veterans Day on Nov. 11. He would like to start the program this year by getting banners erected for about a dozen decorated veterans.
When he went to school, most of his classmates’ fathers were veterans of WWII, and he is not sure how many veteran families will step forward to get a banner made for their loved ones.
“People will be shocked when they start hearing about some of the people from Margate who never talked about what they did. These guys are real heroes,” he said, noting some of the sacrifices made by Margate residents. “These guys ought to be saluted.”
As more veterans from Margate are identified, Savio said he envisions that banners can be added to other highly traveled roadways, including Jerome Avenue and the Amherst Avenue Marina District.
Mayor Michael Collins said he is in favor of the program but is concerned if it can be completed by summer.
“You have my blessing to move forward,” Collins said.
Anyone interested in learning more should contact Recycling Coordinator Anthony Edge at 609-822-5038.
Copyright Access Network 2025
