(May 22, 2015) Memorial Day weekend in Ocean City brings everyone multiple activities to choose from, including patriotic ceremonies, laser shows, a beach procession, a parade and an arts and crafts show.
Here are a few events taking place in the resort and surrounding areas Friday through Memorial Day Monday, May 25:
Ocean City:
•The 15th annual Spring Arts and Craft show hits the 40th Street convention center this Saturday and Sunday with approximately 50 vendors selling garden accessories, soaps, handmade jewelry, candles, floral arrangements, nautical items, wreaths, flags, wood crafts, handmade chocolates, fudge, dip mixes and much more.
“There is a variety of merchandise with just about anything you might want to see,” said Janice Cropper, the show’s organizer. “Look for novelty items made out of driftwood pieces, items such as plant holders made out of wrought iron and hair braiding and face painting for the kids.”
Town Cats will bring its cats and kittens for adoption and Wags & Wishes based out of Cambridge will have rescue puppies to adopt along with snacks and toys for purchase.
The First State Marine Corp League will be on hand recruiting members and collecting funds for wounded warriors.
The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 800-OC-OCEAN.
•Ocean City’s Beach Light Spectacular, a free laser light show on the beach, returns this summer with a special patriotic show on Saturday night at North Division Street. The show incorporates lasers, lights, video, fireworks, music and special effects displayed on a five-story-tall beach ball.
Normally slated every Sunday night at 9:30, 10 and 10:30 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, the Saturday showing will be a special event to celebrate Memorial Day.
For more information, visit www.ocbeachlights.com, call 410-798-6304 or email infoevent@specialeventpro.com.
•The Dunes Manor Hotel on 28th Street and Baltimore Avenue will host the American Legion Synepuxent Post 166 Color Guard procession oceanside starting at 8 a.m. Monday.
It will begin in the parking lot out front of Dunes Manor and head to the beach and include the playing of Taps and laying of a wreath in the ocean.
The ceremony will be led by Commander Sarge Garlitz, Chaplin Bernie Michels and Captain Bob Deickman.
For more information call the Dunes Manor Hotel at 1-800-523-2888.
•American Legion Post 166 and VFW Post 8296 will host a Memorial Day service at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 25 at Post 8296 on 66th Street.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Bob Shiffner will take the lead and Chaplain George Hamaty will give the Invocation.
June Kelley, president of the Ladies Auxiliary, will represent them and Commander Sarge Garlitz of Synepuxent Post #166 American Legion will say a few words.
Chaplain Bernie Michels will offer the Benediction.
Auxiliary Vice President Tina Preziotti and Buster Slaton, director of chapter #166 American Legion Riders, will speak on behalf of their Units.
Vice Commander Bill Wolf of the Sons of the American Legion #166 will give his remarks and Commandant Frank Matter of the First State Marine Corp League will represent them at this year’s event.
Tom “TP” Simons will represent the Elks of Ocean City, Ben Dawson will speak for the Ocean City Lions Club and President Nelson Kelley of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #1091 will participate.
Captain Bob Deickman of Synepuxent Post #166’s Color Guard will command the Guard during the program, the Firing Squad will fire the volley for the salute and Bugler Eric Nilsson will play Taps.
There will be light refreshments at the ceremony, which is free and open to the public.
For more information, call the American Legion in Ocean City at 410-289-3166.
Ocean Pines:
•To celebrate the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation’s 10th anniversary, a cocktail party will take place on Saturday, May 23, from 5-7 p.m.
The party will be held under a big tent on the grounds of the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines on the edge of the South Gate and walking trail off Cathell Road.
“This is a very special place, a place of tears, a place of peace, a place of unity, and place of pride for our community,” stated Sharyn O’Hare, Ocean Pines board member, board member emeritus of the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation and event co-chair, in a release.
The event will feature appetizers, beverages and a cash bar.
Entertainment will be provided by Frank Nanna and the WWIIunes with a special appearance from Todd Crosby.
To make a reservation, contact Barbara Robert at 410-208-3249 or Mary Adair at 410-208-0376.
The cost is $25 per person in advance. Admission will be $35 that evening.
Proceeds from the event will be used for the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation’s educational program for all fifth graders in Worcester County. Sponsorships and memberships are also available.
For more information, visit www.OPVETS.com.
•Ocean Pines will host the 10th annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial on Route 589 near the South Gate.
To celebrate and honor this year’s landmark ceremony, a flag will once again fly over the American cemetery at Normandy. Many original flag raisers will be present to raise the flags to full staff at noon.
Major General James A. Adkins, who recently retired after serving as the 28th Adjutant General of Maryland, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s event. Adkins is an Eastern Shore native and served 40 years in enlisted and officer ranks in intelligence, infantry and cavalry assignments throughout the United States and abroad.
The ceremony will recognize gold star mothers, which are parents of local servicemen who we have lost and local former POWs, who will present a wreath to honor all POWs and MIAs, said veteran Bob Gilmore. The service will also recognize female veterans with a wreath laying at the female veteran’s garden at the memorial, he said.
The Delmarva Chorus, Frank Nanna and the WWIIunes, Todd Crosby and Randy Lee Ashcraft will perform patriotic music during the hour-long event.
The Ocean Pines Memorial Day ceremony is well attended with around 2,500 participating last year and though some seating is provided, attendees should bring lawn chairs to the event.
The Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation is extending an invitation to women military veterans who would like to participate in the 10th anniversary Memorial Day ceremony. Contact Linda Shanahan at 410-200-0994.
In case of rain, the ceremony will take place at the Community Church at Ocean Pines.
For more information, call Gilmore at 410-208-6612 or visit www.OPVETS.com.
Berlin:
•The American Legions, Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders in northern Worcester County will be coming together for a Memorial Service Ceremony on Sunday, May 24, at 8 a.m. in front of Stevenson Methodist Church on Main Street in Berlin.
The American Legion was the first national organization to adopt the poppy as its Memorial Flower in 1920 with the American Legion Auxiliary following suite in 1921.
Every year, disabled veterans make paper poppies for the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Program.
Profits from the sales are distributed to servicemen, servicewomen and their families.
Organizers encourage people to come out, make a donation and wear poppies with pride.
For more information, call Nicole House-Blanc, president of the Berlin/Ocean City American Legion Auxiliary at 410-629-6813.
•Berlin kicks off Memorial Day Monday at 9 a.m. with a Color Guard salute at local cemeteries.
A massive parade starts at 11 a.m. with about 40 units participating including civic, church and community groups, marching, music and dance troupes, military demonstrations, classic cars and motorcycles, beginning at Stephen Decatur Middle School and proceeding down Flower Street to Bay Street.
During the annual Old-Fashioned Memorial Day celebration, trophies will be awarded to the top groups with activities taking place until around 5 p.m.
Vendor booths will line Flower Street, with children’s activities on the grounds of the newly renovated multipurpose building, and yard sale tables set up inside.
Jesse Turner, who owns and operates Berlin Shoe Box & Shoe Repair on Main Street, and a group of volunteers began planning this year’s event in January.
“It’s almost like a family reunion. We’ve got people scattered all over – Pennsylvania, New York – and they all come home,” Turner said. “We hope they all enjoy it and hope they come back again next year.”
For more information contact Turner at 410-641-1989.
