Ocean City’s annual “A Day to Remember” 9/11 memorial ceremony begins at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, in front of the Ocean City Fire Department headquarters between Fifth Street and Sixth Street on Asbury Avenue. All are encouraged to attend.
The ceremony is always well-attended and includes music, prayer and reflections on the memory of lives lost and on the community spirit that was renewed in the wake of the tragedy. The event includes the Striking of the Four Fives, a fire service tradition noting the death of a firefighter in the line of duty.
This year’s special guest speaker will be Becky Wynne, sister of Richard “Rick” Blood, an executive and volunteer fire marshal who died in the World Trade Center attacks in 2001. Their families continue to visit Ocean City every summer in honor of Rick. They visit a boardwalk bench honoring him and relish all of the happy memories they shared here.
The event also will include:
- Presentation of Colors: Ocean City Boy Scouts Troop 32
- Flag Salute: Morvay-Miley American Legion Post 524 and Ferguson-Foglio VFW Post 6650
- National Anthem: St. Augustine Prep Men’s A Cappella Chorus
- Invocation: The Rev. John Jamieson, Ocean City Fire Department chaplain
- Introduction of Dignitaries: James Mallon, Ocean City business administrator
- Welcome: Mayor Jay A. Gillian
- Laying of Wreath: Ocean City Police and Fire Departments
- “Amazing Grace”: Bagpiper Jack Meehan
- Remarks and Benediction: Pastor Larry Oksten, St. Peter’s United Methodist Church
- “God Bless America”: Julia Mary Wilson
For more information, call 609-399-6111.
The Ocean City Tabernacle will be host to a separate service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. Sujo John returns as the keynote speaker.
Sujo and his wife, Mary, were among the last survivors of the World Trade Center attacks in 2001. He has since launched an international evangelical ministry and delivers a passionate and heartfelt message of faith and hope.
The service also will honor local heroes and first responders, including the Ocean City police and fire departments and local veterans organizations.
For more information, call 609-399-1915
