I was in Florida in early March ’62, vacationing with my parents and visiting my sister and her family. My boyfriend, Bill, came from Beach Haven to surprise me, and while there we became engaged.

As he left for his flight home, little did we know what awaited him. His departure was delayed and he was rerouted twice before arriving in Philadelphia. Listening to the car radio, he learned that a ship had come ashore in Holgate.