Please sign this petition to name the new Cape May convention hall "Mariners Hall" in honor of the many fishermen who have lost their lives off the coast, those who continue to risk their lives each day and the Coast Guard sailors who work tirelessly in the waters off the coast of Cape May.

In Cape May, there has been much anger and frustration over the new convention hall being built, as it is more of a mix between a convention center and a community center, then a true convention hall. Many lines have been drawn in the sand and people are genuinely upset at what they see as a series of slights on the part of the city.

One thing we can all agree upon, however, is our admiration and respect for the mariners who operate off the coast of Cape May. Those fishermen risk their lives every day and their ships can be seen clearly from that floor to ceiling wall of windows in the back of this new hall. So too, can the Coast Guard ships that are on duty 24 hours a day, protecting others and risking their own lives. To bring all the groups together and honor those brave men and women who work in the waters off Cape May, I propose the city officially name this new building "Mariners Hall".

The new Mariners Hall would also serve as a very visible memorial to the many fishermen who have been lost at sea, who never came home to their family. We know there is a quiet memorial along the harbor that most visitors to Cape May will never see. It's a beautifully serene place for families to grieve and remember. This new hall would be something much different, a large representation of Cape May's commitment towards the memory of those fishermen who've been lost and support of the many who continue to risk their lives each day.

Please sign this petition to honor the lifeblood of Cape May, the fishermen who have fed us for 400 years and all the mariners who have operated off the coast of Cape May, including those of the Cape May Coast Guard base.