While Cooper's Ferry Development Association was proud to play a role in the July 31 presentation of the Camden Waterfront to the USS New Jersey Battleship Commission, ours was a relatively minor role in terms of the overall program for that day.

The entire four-hour event was the most carefully planned and well-executed public presentation that many of us have ever seen. The credit for its success belongs to the many organizations and many people who put an incredible effort into every detail of the program.

The contingent of individuals directly involved in the planning and execution of this special event included state Sen. John Matheussen, Camden County Freeholder Pat Jones, Camden Mayor Milton Milan, Joe Balzano of the South Jersey Port Corporation, Marlene Asselta of the Southern New Jersey Development Council, Norm Sooy of the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs and Harry Kennedy of the Delaware River Port Authority.

If, as we hope, the battleship commission does decide to choose the Camden Waterfront as the permanent berth for the USS New Jersey, a good part of the credit for that decision will belong to all of those individuals and the staff and volunteers who worked hard to make that event such a success.

TOM CORCORAN
Cooper's Ferry Development Assoc.
Camden