(May 25, 2017) There are a number of activities to choose from in Berlin, Ocean Pines and Ocean City this Memorial Day weekend, from patriotic ceremonies and light displays to a parade and arts and crafts show.
Here are a few events taking place Friday through Memorial Day Monday, May 29:
Ocean Pines:
•The Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation will host its 12th annual Memorial Day public ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday.
It will take place at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines on Route 589 near the South Gate.
“The ceremony will feature patriotic music and pageantry, honoring the servicemen and women who gave their lives for our freedom,” said Marie Gilmore, a Veterans Memorial volunteer.
MC Timaree Sparks, officer in charge of the United States Coast Guard in Ocean City, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s event.
DJ Batman will be the master of ceremonies where Gold Star Mothers and former American POW’s will be honored.
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 always well attended and though some seating is provided, attendees should bring lawn chairs to the event. Golf carts will be on hand for those who need assistance from the parking lot.
The ceremony will be moved indoors to the Ocean Pines Community Center in the event of inclement weather.
For information, call Gilmore at 410-208-6612 or visit www.OPVETS.com.
Berlin:
•A memorial ceremony will take place at Mystic Harbour on Route 611, this Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
Sarge Garlitz, vice commander of the South Eastern Shore District of the American Legion, will be the emcee.
Chaplain Teddy Rozzano will say a prayer and Rosie Garlitz will read the World War I poem, “In Flanders Fields.”
Comments will be made by members of the General Assembly of Maryland, Del. Mary Beth Carozza and Sen. Jim Mathias.
Kelly Quinn, president of the Mystic Harbour Association, will place the memorial wreath at the flag pole. The American Legion Rifle Team consisting of members from Boggs-Disharoon Post #123, Synepuxent Post #166 and Duncan-Showell Post #231 will fire the three-volley salute.
Following the salute, “Taps” will be played by bugler Johan Nykvist. Rosie Garlitz will lead everyone in singing “God Bless America.”
For more information, call Garlitz at 443-735-1942.
•The American Legions, Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders of Chapter #166 in northern Worcester County will be coming together for a Memorial Service Ceremony on Sunday, May 28, at 8 a.m. in front of Stevenson Methodist Church on Main Street in Berlin.
Sen. Jim Mathias will be the keynote speaker.
The American Legion color and honor guard of Boggs-Disharoon Post #123 and Duncan-Showell Post #231 will raise the U.S. Flag. Members of the two posts and their auxiliary will lay wreaths at the flag pole in honor of those who are deceased.
Following the memorial service, events continue at Boggs-Disharoon American Legion Post #123 on Old Ocean City Blvd. beginning at 9:15 a.m.
The color guard, members of the post and the auxiliary will lay a wreath at their memorial. The rifle team will fire the volley salute followed by “Taps.”
For information, call the American Legion in Ocean City at 410-289-3166.
•Berlin kicks off Memorial Day Monday with its annual Ole-Fashioned Memorial Day celebration and parade, which will honor the late Jesse H. Turner, who served as parade chairman since its inception.
Festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. with patriotic activities presented by the Duncan-Showell Post #231 of the American Legion, visiting Whaleyville Pullets United Methodist Church, Curtis United Methodist Church in Bishopville and Saint Paul and New Bethel Church cemeteries in Berlin to honor deceased veterans.
The parade will begin at Stephen Decatur Middle School on Seahawk Road at 11 a.m. and proceed down the usual parade route to Dr. William Henry Park on Flower Street in Berlin.
Barbara Purnell, winner of the 2017 Berlin Award presented by the Berlin Lions Club, will serve as grand marshal of the parade and will be accompanied by her granddaughter, recently elected Snow Hill Councilwoman LaToya Purnell. Worcester County Commissioner Diana Purnell will also join them.
“I’m happy to be in the parade for Jesse [Turner],” Barbara Purnell said.
Parade organizers promised a full day of fun and excitement to commemorate the day and to honor Turner, who worked diligently every year to plan the celebration.
Children can enjoy a moon bounce and many other planned games and activities on the Berlin Community Improvement Association grounds on Flower Street near the multipurpose building. Vendors will sell fish and chicken, snowballs, drinks and other food items the parking lot area.
For more information, contact parade committee chair Gabriel Purnell at 410-641-1988.
•The fifth annual “Seasons of Life” 5K memorial run and walk will take place Saturday, May 27, at 8 a.m. in Berlin.
Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Flower Street and costs $15. Advance admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 10 and under.
News anchor Paul Butler from WBOC will MC and there will be food in addition to weapon demonstrations from martial artist and retired Philadelphia police officer, Benjamin Welburn.
For more information, contact Bertha Purnell at 410-641-0713.
Ocean City:
•The 17th annual Spring Arts and Craft show returns to the 40th Street convention center this Saturday and Sunday with about 56 vendors selling garden accessories, clothing, jewelry, homemade soy candles, florals, nautical items, wax melts, diffusers, homemade soaps, skin care products, wood crafts, wreaths, tote bags, purses, pillows, stained glass windows, handmade chocolates, fudge and dip mixes.
“There are a lot of one-of-a-kind handmade items by the vendors, which you can’t get anywhere but the show,” said Janice Cropper, the show’s organizer.
Free face painting for children will take place Saturday from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the lobby of the convention center.
Town Cats and Delmarva Cat Connection will bring its cats and kittens for adoption as well as gifts for pets and Wags & Wishes based out of Cambridge will have rescue puppies to adopt along with snacks and toys for purchase.
The First State Marine Corps 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.
•New this summer, 100 Nights of Lights, debuts on Memorial Day weekend near North Division Street and will take place nightly through Labor Day weekend from 9-11 p.m.
The free attraction features high-powered searchlights that move and sway in the sky to musical selections playing though speakers on the Boardwalk. The lights also change into a variety of colors.
For more information, call 410-289-2800 or email infoevent@specialeventpro.com.
•Visitors and residents can check out a free showing of “Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania” at Northside Park on 125th Street this Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a beach chair or blanket. Drinks, popcorn and candy will be available for purchase. If it rains, the movie will be shown inside the gym at Northside Park.
For more information, contact Mike Grogan at 410-250-0125.
•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 in front of Dunes Manor and head to the beach and includes the playing of “Taps,” posting of colors, a firing squad, three-volley salute and the laying of a wreath in the ocean by the U.S. Coast Guard of Ocean City.
The ceremony will be led by past commander Sarge Garlitz with Chaplin’s Ben Dawson and Teddy Rozzano. Rosie Garlitz of Unit #166 will offer the Poem Flanders Field and will lead attendees in “God Bless America.”
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, Del. Mary Beth Carozza and Sen. Jim Mathias are slated to say a few words.
For more information, call Joanne Cunningham at the Dunes Manor Hotel at 1-800-523-2888.
•American Legion Post 166 will host a Memorial Day service at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 29, at its facility on 24th Street.
Chaplin Ben Dawson will give the Invocation while Chaplin Teddy Rozzano offers the Benediction. Commander Tom Wengert will welcome those in attendance.
Representatives from the First State Marine Corps League, Unit 166 American Legion Auxiliary, Chapter #166 American Legion Riders, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #1091 and Sons of the American Legion #166 will each say a few words.
In addition, the Ocean City Lions Club and Elks of Ocean City will also participate in the event.
The Troop 261 Boy Scouts, Pack 261 Cub Scouts and Unit 166 Junior Auxiliary will lay the wreath during the service. The event features a post-everlasting moment, firing of the volley salute and “Taps” will be played.
There will be light refreshments served after the ceremony, which is free and open to the public.
For more information, call Commander Wengert at 443-994-2513.
Here are a few events taking place Friday through Memorial Day Monday, May 29:
Ocean Pines:
•The Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation will host its 12th annual Memorial Day public ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday.
It will take place at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines on Route 589 near the South Gate.
“The ceremony will feature patriotic music and pageantry, honoring the servicemen and women who gave their lives for our freedom,” said Marie Gilmore, a Veterans Memorial volunteer.
MC Timaree Sparks, officer in charge of the United States Coast Guard in Ocean City, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s event.
DJ Batman will be the master of ceremonies where Gold Star Mothers and former American POW’s will be honored.
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 always well attended and though some seating is provided, attendees should bring lawn chairs to the event. Golf carts will be on hand for those who need assistance from the parking lot.
The ceremony will be moved indoors to the Ocean Pines Community Center in the event of inclement weather.
For information, call Gilmore at 410-208-6612 or visit www.OPVETS.com.
Berlin:
•A memorial ceremony will take place at Mystic Harbour on Route 611, this Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
Sarge Garlitz, vice commander of the South Eastern Shore District of the American Legion, will be the emcee.
Chaplain Teddy Rozzano will say a prayer and Rosie Garlitz will read the World War I poem, “In Flanders Fields.”
Comments will be made by members of the General Assembly of Maryland, Del. Mary Beth Carozza and Sen. Jim Mathias.
Kelly Quinn, president of the Mystic Harbour Association, will place the memorial wreath at the flag pole. The American Legion Rifle Team consisting of members from Boggs-Disharoon Post #123, Synepuxent Post #166 and Duncan-Showell Post #231 will fire the three-volley salute.
Following the salute, “Taps” will be played by bugler Johan Nykvist. Rosie Garlitz will lead everyone in singing “God Bless America.”
For more information, call Garlitz at 443-735-1942.
•The American Legions, Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders of Chapter #166 in northern Worcester County will be coming together for a Memorial Service Ceremony on Sunday, May 28, at 8 a.m. in front of Stevenson Methodist Church on Main Street in Berlin.
Sen. Jim Mathias will be the keynote speaker.
The American Legion color and honor guard of Boggs-Disharoon Post #123 and Duncan-Showell Post #231 will raise the U.S. Flag. Members of the two posts and their auxiliary will lay wreaths at the flag pole in honor of those who are deceased.
Following the memorial service, events continue at Boggs-Disharoon American Legion Post #123 on Old Ocean City Blvd. beginning at 9:15 a.m.
The color guard, members of the post and the auxiliary will lay a wreath at their memorial. The rifle team will fire the volley salute followed by “Taps.”
For information, call the American Legion in Ocean City at 410-289-3166.
•Berlin kicks off Memorial Day Monday with its annual Ole-Fashioned Memorial Day celebration and parade, which will honor the late Jesse H. Turner, who served as parade chairman since its inception.
Festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. with patriotic activities presented by the Duncan-Showell Post #231 of the American Legion, visiting Whaleyville Pullets United Methodist Church, Curtis United Methodist Church in Bishopville and Saint Paul and New Bethel Church cemeteries in Berlin to honor deceased veterans.
The parade will begin at Stephen Decatur Middle School on Seahawk Road at 11 a.m. and proceed down the usual parade route to Dr. William Henry Park on Flower Street in Berlin.
Barbara Purnell, winner of the 2017 Berlin Award presented by the Berlin Lions Club, will serve as grand marshal of the parade and will be accompanied by her granddaughter, recently elected Snow Hill Councilwoman LaToya Purnell. Worcester County Commissioner Diana Purnell will also join them.
“I’m happy to be in the parade for Jesse [Turner],” Barbara Purnell said.
Parade organizers promised a full day of fun and excitement to commemorate the day and to honor Turner, who worked diligently every year to plan the celebration.
Children can enjoy a moon bounce and many other planned games and activities on the Berlin Community Improvement Association grounds on Flower Street near the multipurpose building. Vendors will sell fish and chicken, snowballs, drinks and other food items the parking lot area.
For more information, contact parade committee chair Gabriel Purnell at 410-641-1988.
•The fifth annual “Seasons of Life” 5K memorial run and walk will take place Saturday, May 27, at 8 a.m. in Berlin.
Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Flower Street and costs $15. Advance admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 10 and under.
News anchor Paul Butler from WBOC will MC and there will be food in addition to weapon demonstrations from martial artist and retired Philadelphia police officer, Benjamin Welburn.
For more information, contact Bertha Purnell at 410-641-0713.
Ocean City:
•The 17th annual Spring Arts and Craft show returns to the 40th Street convention center this Saturday and Sunday with about 56 vendors selling garden accessories, clothing, jewelry, homemade soy candles, florals, nautical items, wax melts, diffusers, homemade soaps, skin care products, wood crafts, wreaths, tote bags, purses, pillows, stained glass windows, handmade chocolates, fudge and dip mixes.
“There are a lot of one-of-a-kind handmade items by the vendors, which you can’t get anywhere but the show,” said Janice Cropper, the show’s organizer.
Free face painting for children will take place Saturday from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the lobby of the convention center.
Town Cats and Delmarva Cat Connection will bring its cats and kittens for adoption as well as gifts for pets and Wags & Wishes based out of Cambridge will have rescue puppies to adopt along with snacks and toys for purchase.
The First State Marine Corps 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.
•New this summer, 100 Nights of Lights, debuts on Memorial Day weekend near North Division Street and will take place nightly through Labor Day weekend from 9-11 p.m.
The free attraction features high-powered searchlights that move and sway in the sky to musical selections playing though speakers on the Boardwalk. The lights also change into a variety of colors.
For more information, call 410-289-2800 or email infoevent@specialeventpro.com.
•Visitors and residents can check out a free showing of “Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania” at Northside Park on 125th Street this Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a beach chair or blanket. Drinks, popcorn and candy will be available for purchase. If it rains, the movie will be shown inside the gym at Northside Park.
For more information, contact Mike Grogan at 410-250-0125.
•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 in front of Dunes Manor and head to the beach and includes the playing of “Taps,” posting of colors, a firing squad, three-volley salute and the laying of a wreath in the ocean by the U.S. Coast Guard of Ocean City.
The ceremony will be led by past commander Sarge Garlitz with Chaplin’s Ben Dawson and Teddy Rozzano. Rosie Garlitz of Unit #166 will offer the Poem Flanders Field and will lead attendees in “God Bless America.”
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, Del. Mary Beth Carozza and Sen. Jim Mathias are slated to say a few words.
For more information, call Joanne Cunningham at the Dunes Manor Hotel at 1-800-523-2888.
•American Legion Post 166 will host a Memorial Day service at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 29, at its facility on 24th Street.
Chaplin Ben Dawson will give the Invocation while Chaplin Teddy Rozzano offers the Benediction. Commander Tom Wengert will welcome those in attendance.
Representatives from the First State Marine Corps League, Unit 166 American Legion Auxiliary, Chapter #166 American Legion Riders, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #1091 and Sons of the American Legion #166 will each say a few words.
In addition, the Ocean City Lions Club and Elks of Ocean City will also participate in the event.
The Troop 261 Boy Scouts, Pack 261 Cub Scouts and Unit 166 Junior Auxiliary will lay the wreath during the service. The event features a post-everlasting moment, firing of the volley salute and “Taps” will be played.
There will be light refreshments served after the ceremony, which is free and open to the public.
For more information, call Commander Wengert at 443-994-2513.