FILE PHOTO
VFW Post 10159 march in the Old Fashioned Memorial Day Parade in Berlin last year. The post was honored during the parade for its frequent participation in the annual event.
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer
(May 23, 2019) Berlin’s Old Fashion Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, and organizers are feeling good about the logistics and organization of the festivities.
“It’s coming together really well,” said DJ Lockwood, chairman of the Berlin Community Improvement Association. “…We have about 40 units, which … I think this is going to be the largest parade that I’ve ever been involved with.”
With between 35 and 40 units participating, and 20 to 25 cars in each unit, Lockwood said it could be “the largest parade in at least five years.”
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, and the lineup will begin at 9 a.m. at Stephen Decatur Middle School on Seahawk Road in Berlin.
Parking for the event is available across from Dr. William Henry Park at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on 3 Church St. in Berlin.
Lockwood also said the Berlin Police Department, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland Natural Resources Police and local fire police officers would help to populate the parade.
“This year we have I think every law enforcement agency participating, [and] all local law enforcement participating,” Lockwood said.
The theme for the 2019 Old Fashion Memorial Day Parade is Celebrating Women in Service.
Lockwood said organizers plan to do that by having female co-grand marshals: U.S. Air Force Capt. Michelle Rogers and Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Major Donna Dare.
Local historian Greg Purnell said this year’s parade theme helps to “make women out in the community feel appreciated.”
Additionally, Lockwood said roughly 20 vendors would be at next week’s parade.
As for food, residents and visitors will find a major menu that ranges from crab cakes to Hawaiian ice.
One local favorite Lockwood said he’s particularly excited about is steak fish, which is a thick cut of a spiny dogfish shark.
“We have a vendor that specializes in steak fish, so people look forward, they always ask me, ‘Are you selling steak fish? Is the steak fish vendor going to be there?’” Lockwood said.
Lockwood added that the Berlin Community Improvement Association would have a booth during the festivities.
“I think that this is a point where we can all come together and enjoy ourselves for one day and gain membership [and] new ideas,” he said.
Lockwood said guests could also take advantage of several activities, including face painting, a pickup basketball tournament and a dance competition.
One obstacle Lockwood faces: Mother Nature.
“Right now, the only challenge … would be weather,” Lockwood said. “Other than that we’re smooth flowing now, everyone’s done an excellent job.”
Forecasts for Memorial Day show a high of 77 degrees with a partly cloudy sky, according to weather.com. There is a 10 percent chance of precipitation.
While some may call the holiday the unofficial start to summer, Lockwood added that “we don’t want forget the reason we’re having the Memorial Day parade for military personnel loss of lives.”
Purnell, a veteran who served during the Vietnam War, said the Old Fashion Memorial Day Parade was the “grandest of parades back in the day.”
Purnell noted how the parade used to run throughout the entire town for many years. Once Route 113 was established, participation decreased, and the parade even stopped.
He added there was a resurgence of the parade in the mid-to-late 1990s. It has continued to this day.
However, Purnell called for widespread community participation and support.
“[It’s the] coolest small town in America. Let’s be that,” Purnell said.
Anyone with questions or interest in participating should contact Lockwood at 443-497-3242, or via email at djlockwood334@gmail.com.
This story was updated to include event parking.