Barnegat Man Organizes Thin Blue Line Flag-Raising Ceremony

BARNEGAT, NJ — If Fred Rubenstein's subway showed up on time on Sept. 11, 2001, he wouldn't be here. Rubenstein, who worked in transit, was on a way to a meeting at 7 World Trade Center when the first plane struck.

The subway had arrived eight minutes late.

"During that, I saw acts of bravery that I hadn’t seen since I served in Vietnam," Rubenstein said. "When everybody else was running out, the police were running in."

The experience helped shape the beliefs of Rubenstein, who organized a Thin Blue Line flag-raising ceremony. The event takes place at 4 p.m. Tuesday at his home on 4 Hickory Cir.

Rubenstein and his family have lived in Barnegat for nearly 28 years. In that time, they have never felt apprehensive about their safety. Rubenstein praised the Barnegat Police Department and Chief Keith Germain.

"When we see police, it warms our heart to see children run towards them and not away from them," he told Patch hours before the ceremony.

They got a 30-foot flagpole about two months ago on the street corner. They topped it with the American flag and put a flag with a traditional blue line symbol below it.

At the ceremony, they'll raise the newer "Thin Blue Line" flag. Jaclyn Hoffman, the widow of former Barnegat police officer Alex Hoffman, will raise the flag. Alex, 40, died off-duty Oct. 2 while working his second job. Read more: Grief For Barnegat Police Officer Who Died Off-Duty

Rubenstein and his wife write a $500 check each year to the Barnegat Police Benevolent Association. They have written the check this year in Hoffman's memory.

He said doesn't like seeing police "vilified or crucified." The Barnegat resident is using the ceremony to honor the police willing to make sacrifices for the public, he said.

"The policing system is not perfect. Only a fool would claim that it is," Rubenstein said. "But the overwhelming majority of cops are decent women and men. Their accomplishment and their heroism is legendary."

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.