'We just love our Coast Guard.' Cape May residents line streets to honor grads.

People line Pittsburgh Avenue to cheer the graduates of recruit company Oscar 198 as they leave the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, Friday, April 24, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Approximately 100 people -- in masks and socially distancing from one another -- lined Pittsburgh Avenue on a rainy Friday morning to send off the latest graduates of the U.S. Coast Guard as they departed the training center in Cape May.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the recruit class of Oscar 198, who graduated Wednesday, were not allowed to have their family and friends celebrate with them. So, the Cape May community stepped in to show their love and appreciation.

"I feel bad for these young people who are willing to give up a lot to be here and can't even be greeted and held and hugged and praised by their families," said Debbie Christman, as she sat in her car waiting for the bus of graduates to pass by.

"I think they need to know that people really care for them," she said, adding that she missed seeing the recruits in town where people would often buy them coffee or put money towards their bill.

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Shortly before 11 a.m. people began to assemble by their cars near the intersection of Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh avenues with American Flags of all sizes and signs thanking the graduates for their service.

While social distancing with her friends and holding a hand-written sign that read "God Bless," Barbara Laforgia, of Cape May, said that they came out because the families of the graduates would want them to show up to support their sons and daughters.

"We just love our Coast Guard," she said.

Sirens and horns blared from police cars and fire engines as the procession made the right turn onto Pittsburgh Avenue where they were greeted by the cheers of the mostly face masked American Flag waving crowd.

Kevin Mcleer, of the Villas, a 1973 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, said that watching the graduates pass by brought back memories of his youth.

"I support them and support our country, especially in this time with what's going on," he said.

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