U.S. Navy SEAL Joe Hahn, his wife Morgan and four sons, Hunter, 12, Blake, 5, Clayton, 3, and Gunner, 18 months are scheduled to arrive in Ventnor at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10. Residents are being asked to line the parade route and honor the family for their service.
Wounded Warrior Week recipient, U.S. Navy Seal Joseph Hahn’s flight is on time. The American Legion Post has confirmed that his scheduled arrival time in Ventnor is 5:30 p.m. Residents are asked to line the parade route starting at 5:30 p.m.
To ensure Downbeach participation for the arrival of the Longport American Legion’s eighth annual Wounded Warrior Week recipient, U.S. Navy Seal Joseph Hahn and his family, the Legion will provide an update at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 to alert the public of Hahn’s timely arrival in Ventnor City.
Hahn is scheduled to arrive at the Ventnor Plaza shopping center at 5:30 p.m., but in the past the recipient’s flight was delayed by as much as two hours, leaving spectators along the parade route wondering if the parade would ever pass by.
To ensure residents of Ventnor, Margate and Longport don’t miss his arrival, the Legion will provide an update at 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon here and on the Borough of Longport’s website, informing the public if his flight from Charlotte, North Carolina will be on time. He is scheduled to board the plane at 1:30 p.m., according to Post 469 Commander Larry Pacentrilli.
“We want our residents to be there with signs and waving American flags no matter what time he arrives,” Pacentrilli said, encouraging residents to check the website to see if his flight is on-time.
Unable to fully recover from injuries that shattered his legs in two separate explosions along with traumatic brain injuries from nearby explosions while on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hahn was medically retired in 2017. Each injury required several surgeries and 10 months of recovery time before he was able to return to his unit. After two more deployments, the extent of his injuries required more surgeries and rehabilitation.
Hahn enlisted and spent 13 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL. He was trained in basic underwater demolition and was deployed multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as other missions targeting terrorist activity.
He has been multiply decorated and is the recipient of the Purple Heart, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, among others.
Hahn, who now lives in Oklahoma, and his wife Morgan and four sons, Hunter, 12, Blake, 5, Clayton, 3, and Gunner, 18 months, will be picked up by Legion members at Philadelphia International Airport and transported to Ventnor. He is scheduled to arrive at the shopping center 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday before being transferred to a limousine for the ride to Longport. The motorcade through Downbeach will be a surprise gift from the community for the unsuspecting Wounded Warrior.
“When Joe and his family arrive in Ventnor, they will be quite surprised when they are greeted at the shopping center and transferred to a beautiful white convertible stretch limousine that will be escorted by the American Legion Riders on their Harley motorcycles,” Pacentrilli said.
Local police and fire companies will join the motorcade as it travels along Dorset Avenue and Atlantic Avenue as it proceeds through all three Downbeach communities to Hahn’s home-away-from home in Longport, where he and his family will enjoy a much-needed, week-long vacation at a private beach-block residence anonymously donated by a Longport family.
Wounded Warrior Week 2018 recipient Adam Fleck, U.S. Navy, arrives for a week-long stay in Longport.
Their all-expense-paid week in Longport will include a refrigerator stocked with food and beverages, a barbeque, dinners out at fabulous restaurants, fishing/crabbing expeditions, a visit to the Ocean City boardwalk, and much more, all donated by local families and businesses through the Legion. A special private ceremony with the American Legion will take place Sunday afternoon, honoring Hahn for his service to the cause of freedom.
“This is an opportunity for our community to demonstrate our appreciation for our troops by showing our visiting Wounded Warrior we care and appreciate his sacrifices,” Pacentrilli said. “Please come out and help us in give a warm welcome to Joe Hahn and his family. And feel free to show your support by waving American Flags and displaying signs with welcoming messages.”
Downbeach.com will provide coverage of the welcome and provide an update about his arrival time shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Residents can also check the Longport website, www.longportnj.gov for the latest update on Hahn’s arrival.
