By Dan Marselle
For as long as I can remember, the statue of King Neptune has stood on the boulevard in Beach Haven Terrace — a sentinel of stone amidst the ebb and flow of tides, watching over the beach, the bay, and all who call Long Beach Island home.
Over the years, my heart grew fond of his presence, as did the hearts of many others in the community. When I heard the news, King Neptune was to be sold, no longer to stand on the boulevard, a fixture in our lives but to be moved away — it felt as though another part of our shared history would be lost. I knew then that I had to do something, for this statue was more than just a piece of art; it was a living memory of our past, a guardian of the present, and a promise to the future.
Perhaps you can sense I am a bit sentimental, especially when it comes to LBI. Our families have gathered on the same street in Beach Haven Park since the 1960s, creating traditions and forming lasting memories too numerous to recount here. For over 20 years, my wife, Cristina, and I have owned our home on the very same street, continuing family traditions and making memories of our own. I knew that if Neptune was to be moved, he must stay close. Then I thought, why not here at our LBI home, where he could continue to offer his protection, his strength, his timeless wisdom to us and all that gather here. With little hesitation, I reached out and a deal was struck.
The statue arrived at our home on a warm afternoon, the sun casting a golden hue over the bay as the delivery truck pulled into our front yard. With careful precision, we placed him on a platform which my brother-in-law and I had built, ensuring he would have a perfect view of the bay. There is deep comfort in knowing King Neptune remains a part of us, his towering form guarding the shores as the sea continues its eternal dance. His presence whispers of resilience — of storms weathered and calm seas ahead. He watches as we go about our lives, a tangible reminder that some things, like the ocean itself, are meant to be constant, ever-present, enduring. My hope, as I stand beside him now, is that King Neptune will never truly leave. That this statue, which has been part of our community for so long, will stay a fixture in the lives of future generations. I hope that, long after I am gone, someone will look upon him with the same reverence, the same affection, and the same sense of belonging that I feel today.
From his new post King Neptune’s trident will still point to the sky, his gaze steadfast upon the bay, a symbol not only of the waters he once ruled but of the strength, unity, and love that binds us together, in this place we call home, Long Beach Island.
