OCEAN CITY — Ocean City has honored the Elliott family for how they responded to a personal tragedy and have worked tirelessly for a quarter-century to save others’ lives.
Bill and Muriel Elliott founded the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign 25 years ago after their son, John, a U.S. Navy ensign, was killed by a drunken driver while traveling home for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
That was in 2000. Through their advocacy, in 2001 New Jersey enacted John’s Law, which requires police to impound the vehicles of those arrested for drunken driving for 12 hours.
The law closed a loophole that allowed a driver, who was arrested for suspected drunken driving, to return to his car after being released from custody. That driver was the one who slammed head-on into Elliott’s vehicle, killing both men on Route 40 in Salem County.
Bill and Muriel Elliott and their foundation have spent the past 25 years advocating to prevent drunken driving deaths, working with bars and restaurants, police departments and sports teams. They’ve worked to encourage designated drivers, alcohol-free mocktails instead of cocktails, and for wrapping police cars in HERO Campaign designs.
The proclamation Mayor Jay Gillian read at the Dec. 18 council meeting noted the Elliotts are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 27.
It honors the couple, citing the HERO Campaign’s 25th anniversary, and the passage of John’s Law.
“Ocean City has always been deeply appreciative of the many contributions they have made, turning tragedy to change in memory of their son, and how the HERO Walk has been a highlight of the resort’s fall every year since 2011,” according to the resolution. It points out the first wrapped police vehicle was in Ocean City, courtesy of resident Jane French, and that since then the HERO Campaign has wrapped 40 police vehicles in multiple states.
Bill Elliott said Ocean City has been their second home and that the resort “has been the perfect partner for us and everything we’ve done.
“What better place to have a walk than on the boardwalk? And the first car,” he said, pointing out that former police Capt. Charlie Simonsen came up with the idea to have a car wrapped. “I thought for about a tenth of a second and I thought, why didn’t I think of that. Great idea,” Elliott said.
Simonsen said it was going to make national news.
“Well, it hasn’t quite made national news, but close to it,” Elliott said, noting there are now two wrapped cars in Ocean City and more than 40 departments now participating.
“It’s just been a great partnership,” Elliott said, “and you help keep us going because it hasn’t been easy, but the love, the support, the enthusiasm, the whole spirit that makes Ocean City what it is, has helped us carry on and we really appreciate it.”
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff