Cape May Point, NJ - Sunset Beach
I recently drove down to Cape May Point, NJ – Sunset Beach. It is located on the southern tip of NJ with the Delaware to the right and the Atlantic Ocean to the Left. The beach is dotted with “Cape May Diamonds” or quartz crystal. These crystals break off of quartz veins along the northern areas of the Delaware River. After thousands of years and 200 mile they settle on the beach of Cape May Point, NJ – Sunset Beach. When polished, these stones are beautiful and can be used to make jewelry.
Just off the Shore, you’ll see what is left of the World War I experimental concrete ship “Atlantus”. She was launch in 1919 and served a year as a coal transport. At the time there were 12 concrete ships built but at the end of the war, steel was readily available again to use in ship construction. She was de-commissioned and made her way to Cape May. The original plan was to use her as part of a ferry operation but during a severe storm in 1926 she broke free of her moorings and ran aground. Several attempts to free her were unsuccessful. Each year she sinks a little more into the bay.
Sunset Beach got its mane from the amazing, brilliant sets. Each evening hundreds of people arrive at the beach to sit and watch the sunset and turn the sky into an incredible show of colors.
As lovely as the sunset is, the thing that I found more powerful was The Evening Flag Ceremony. Each day a flag donated from a family of a deceased veteran is flown at The Point. Each evening twenty minutes or so before sunset the 90 year old owner talks over the loud speaker. He tells the story of the veteran who’s flag is being flown. He asks for any veterans in the crowd to gather at the flag pole. He then asks for a moment of silence. As that moment ends Kate Smith’s version of “God Bless America” is played followed by the National Anthem. The flag is lowered and folded by the Vets in the crowd. This service is real very special and moving. They have been doing this for over 40 years.
Go to http://www.sunsetbeachnj.com/to-do.html for more info in Cape May Point, NJ – Sunset Beach
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