Somers Point’s Run to Remember Adds New First Responder Competition for 25th Anniversary of 9/11

SOMERS POINT, N.J. — Somers Point will add something new to its annual Run to Remember 5K this weekend as the community marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Councilman Sean McGuigan announced that participating police, fire and other public-safety agencies will compete for a new traveling trophy during Saturday morning's race.

The Run to Remember begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at John F. Kennedy Park and travels through Somers Point's Country Club neighborhood before finishing back at the park. Registration is $35 and remains open through 11:59 p.m. Friday, according to the official registration page.

The race is held in remembrance of first responders who died as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“Somers Point doesn't forget that and forget the sacrifices that have been made,” McGuigan said on Off The Press with Scott Cronick on WOND.

McGuigan said that remembrance extends to the people who continue to serve.

“Whoever signed up to be a police officer or firefighter or EMT and a rescue service, you know, we understand the sacrifice you're making,” McGuigan said. “We appreciate and we can't thank you enough.”

New trophy competition

McGuigan said he reached out to public-safety agencies about competing for a large new trophy.

For each participating agency, the times of its five fastest runners will be averaged. The agency with the lowest average time will win.

“We have a huge trophy we're going to give away,” McGuigan said.

The winning agency will get its name placed on the trophy and keep it for a year before it is contested again at the next race.

Cronick compared the idea to the Stanley Cup.

“Exactly,” McGuigan responded. “This trophy will be built like the Stanley Cup.”

Race organizers say participants of all ages and ability levels are welcome and are encouraged to wear or carry something honoring first responders or members of the military.

Proceeds benefit the Somers Point Historical Society and are used for scholarships and other educational opportunities for local students.

Good Old Days follows race

The race leads directly into one of Somers Point's longest-running community traditions.

The 47th annual Good Old Days Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at JFK Park, according to the latest festival listing. Admission is free.

McGuigan, who has been involved with the festival for more than two decades, stressed that he is only one of many people responsible for putting it together.

“I help facilitate, but there's an army of volunteers that put that festival together,” McGuigan said. “I would be remiss if I don't thank every one of them.”

The festival includes children's activities, food, vendors and live music.

McGuigan said this year's musical lineup includes The Notion, Platt Salmon and The Turtle Heads.

There will also be one tradition that inflation hasn't managed to kill.

McGuigan said hamburgers, hot dogs and sodas remain $1 each.

“We're immune to inflation over at the Good Old Days Festival,” he joked. “That's why it's the Good Old Days Festival, because we go back to the good old days when we could afford to buy stuff.”

McGuigan said the event has endured because generations of Somers Point residents continue volunteering.

“Now we're into second and third generation people that have been involved in this,” he said. “It's the epitome of a community event.”