Old Guard Ready For New Missions

Members of the Forked River Old Guard gathered with their guest speaker Lacey Police Chief Michael DiBella and Chaplains Walter Santos and Matthew Hass during a recent meeting of the organization. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)

  LACEY – The Third U.S. Infantry, traditionally known as “The Old Guard,” is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army and has served our nation since 1784. The Forked River Old Guard is keeping that legacy alive and having emerged from the pandemic, are back in action.

  The membership is made up of veterans who live in Ocean County, most of whom reside in the southern portion of the county.

  The Forked River Old Guard is a non-sectarian, non-political group that caters to retired and semi-retired men seeking a social activity and/or community service. Their meetings provide an opportunity for making new acquaintances and continued fellowship with old friends.

  During one recent session, (meetings are Mondays at 10 a.m. at the Lacey Community Center at 15 East Lacey Road) the guest speaker was Lacey Police Chief Michael DiBella who brought along two guests of his own: chaplains Walter Santos and Matthew Hass. All three would speak to the membership about the township police department’s chaplain program.

  Jim Otter, the vice director of the group said this chapter formed in 1968.

  Conversations ranged from sharing the experience of getting a good sandwich from the nearby Forked River Diner to fleshing out plans for a proposed club picnic which would include spouses as well as club members.

  Jerry Benvenuto, the director of the group said he learned about the organization when he was in Atlantic City. Otter said he learned about the club from a neighbor.

  Member Bill Briscoe remarked that upon coming to his first meeting he was expecting all of about “five guys and I walked in and there were about 75 guys here.”

  “And that was a bad day,” Otter added with a laugh.

  Membership, like that of most social and civic organizations, is down. It was hit even harder by the COVID -19 pandemic which shut down operations for months.

  Briscoe said he doesn’t have a title within the group at the current time but is the head of the speakers committee. He was the director for a while.

  A new face in the crowd is Manchester resident Bill Schmidt who is in charge of getting the word out to the public about the organization whether through press releases about club activities to the media or putting out fliers about the group on the bulletin boards of area convenience stores.

  Schmidt was also trying to move the membership forward in committing to attending a picnic set for later in this summer.

  “We have to do the audit today, Jerry,” Otter reminded the group’s leader. He noted that with all the friendly conversations and camaraderie, they easily forget about some of the club business aspects of the organization.

Jim Otter, the vice director of the Forked River Old Guard joins Director Jerry Benvenuto, standing in front of the podium, at a recent meeting at the Lacey Community Center. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)

  “We have a small membership fee. Our secretary has been ill for months and as a result we really don’t have meeting minutes,” Otter said.

  The group used to have monthly trips to Atlantic City. They also held, cruises, trips to Las Vegas, two dinner dances per year and a picnic every summer. The pandemic stalled some of the activities but the membership is adjusting to that as it returns back to regular activity again.

  While some members long for the return of having a three-digit roster and more than 20 people to come out for meetings, the Old Guard isn’t ready to call it a day. They are moving forward with both old and new faces and are actively seeking new members to join their ranks.

  As Schmidt put it, “come on over and check us out every Monday morning at 10 a.m. Should there be a large number of working men who wish to join the Old Guard we may start a Saturday meeting once a month here at the Lacey Community Center.”

  You can join the group by calling 732-575-6904 or e-mailing billschmidt1000@aol.com.

  The Old Guard is the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the president. It provides security for Washington, D.C. in time of national emergency or civil disturbance. It was originally a civilian Watchman who had the responsibility for the security of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On March 24, 1926, a military guard from the Washington Provisional Brigade, the forerunner of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, established the watch during the daylight hours.

  In 1948, the 3rd U.S. Infantry “The Old Guard” assumed the post. The Guard unit got reactivated in the nation’s capital and members of the 3rd Infantry’s Honor Guard continue to serve in this distinguished duty today.