Friends remember, honor former Manalapan resident
Donations help support local causes in name of Joe Driscoll
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

Gathering to honor Patrick "Joe" Driscoll at the Walk With Joe on Sept. 8 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park were (l-r) Driscoll's son, Patrick, alongside boyhood friends Tom Determann, Tom Huyler, Tom Dalzell and Ron Kulik.

MANALAPAN - Auld lange syne means "old long ago" and celebrating that sentiment seemed to be the spirit that carried the day at the sixth annual Walk With Joe on Sept. 8 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Route 33.

The 5K memorial walk in the park, hosted as it has been since its start in September 2002 by the Yorktowne Club to honor former Manalapan resident Patrick "Joe" Driscoll, was another resounding success judging by the turnout of people as well as the more than $30,000 the event raised this year.

The beneficiaries of the money raised through donations and registration fees will be the Samaritan Center, Manalapan; the Flight 93 Memorial, Shanksville, Pa.; the Christopher Gray Memorial Scholarship at West Virginia University; the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center, Freehold Township; and the Manalapan Little League field renovations on Sanford Street.

Hundreds of people gathered again as they have annually since 2002 to honor Driscoll, a man who raised his family in Manalapan and is remembered for his volunteer service to his community and to his church.

Driscoll, 70, was killed on United Airlines Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. He was heading west to take part in an annual hiking expedition with friends.

As in the past years, a brief opening ceremony preceded the walk.

This year's program included inspirational words from the Rev. John Bambrick and a cappella renditions of "Follow the Flag" and "The Irish Blessing" as performed by Driscoll's former fellow singers in the Monmouth Battleground Chorus.

Chorus director Jack Mitchell, Freehold, told the crowd that "The Irish Blessing" had been one of Driscoll's favorite songs.

Driscoll's son, Chris, addressed the gathering on behalf of his family and offered his heartfelt thanks to those who had shown up to honor his father.

The Yorktowne Club is a private local charitable organization of which Driscoll was a member.

The remaining members of the Yorktowne Club, all friends of Driscoll and his family since he moved to Manalapan in the early 1960s with his wife, Maureen, started the event as way to honor the memory and spirit of their friend as well as the others who died on Sept. 11, 2001.

As the event has grown over the years the focus, while remaining on Driscoll, has become more encompassing and way for those who participate to honor the memory of all who were killed in the terrorist attack on the United States.

One person who has attended all of the walks is former Manalapan Mayor Jim Gray, whose son, Chris, was killed in the attack at the World Trade Center. Chris Gray's brother, Jay, was also on hand for the event.

Betty Anne O'Malley, one of the walk's primary organizers since its inception, said that since the walk began in 2002 more than $120,000 had been raised and donated in Driscoll's name. With the addition of $30,000 raised this year, the total now stands at about $150,000.

O'Malley said the continued success of the event buoys the members of the Yorktowne Club and is the inspiration that keeps them all committed to continuing it.

Some of the money that was raised last year was used to fix up the Little League baseball field on Sanford Street. This year a donation will be used to refurbish the refreshment stand at the Little League field, she said.

It is certain that Joe Driscoll, a former youth sports coach, would like that.