The summer may be over, but Long Beach Island lifeguards already have something to look forward to for next year. On July 4, they will carry a special flag on the country’s 250th birthday during the annual flag relay.

“I started the flag run in 2017, and now we’re at the point where we wanted to try to make it a little more special,” said Long Beach Township Beach Patrol Chief Fran Campana. “So, my brother came up with an idea.”