Sea Isle Wishes Happy Retirement To Beloved Beach-Tagger Marilyn Bennett

SEA ISLE CITY, N.J. (CBS) -- It's a summer job that has been filled with heart.

"I have actually checked tags for 25 years," Marilyn Bennett, veteran beach-tagger, said.

With a diary filled with stories, it was one in particular that took her heart. "This is one of the best stories of the beach tag office," Bennett said. She shared the story with Eyewitness News.

"I know all of these people because they come here every year in the same spot. That's why I know so many people and they used to make a hot dog for me every day and I would open the tin foil and there would be potato chips and a hot dog and everything. Well I mentioned to them that I had seen a set of dishes - I cry every time I tell this story - at the thrift store just around the corner.

I said, I didn't buy them. I hope they still have them when I'm off next week. Her and her husband went down there and bought those dishes for me and the next day when I opened the hot dog, which was usually on a paper plate, it was on one of those plates and there was a note in there, the rest of the set is in my condo and there were 15 plates."

On Thursday, beach-goers gathered to wish Bennett the best as she retires from her post as a beach-tagger. She spoke about what it has meant to her to build the connections that she has with the people visiting Sea Isle.

"They have all been so good to me," she said. Among those who came to honor Bennett was Sea Isle mayor Leonard Desiderio. He had a special surprise gift to honor Bennett's retirement.

"I'd like to present to you the key to our city," Desiderio said as he handed it to Bennett amid the cheers of those who came to say thanks.

The crowd then erupted in chants of "one more year!" Those chants were swiftly answered with a "no," from Bennett.