Dear Friends,
Another season is here. We “unlocked the ocean” this afternoon and local business persons took the first official swim of the summer. The Memorial Beach Challenge goes off tomorrow morning, and KC and the Sunshine Band will perform on the Ocean City Music Pier on Sunday evening. Already, the beach and boardwalk are filling up as residents and guests get ready for the weekend.
But I want to remind everybody that Memorial Day is more than just a holiday and a start to summer fun. It’s a time to remember and to reflect on the ultimate sacrifices made by so many service members and their families. They gave their lives so all of us might live in freedom.
I encourage you all to attend our annual Memorial Day Service at 11 a.m. Monday (May 29) at Veterans Memorial Park. Ocean City has always respected the men and women of our military, and the event is always well-attended. This year’s keynote speaker will be Luke Walsh, an Eagle Scout and Ocean City High School graduate who flew more than 90 helicopter missions from a base in Afghanistan.
I hope to see you all there on Monday. In the event of rain, the ceremony will move across the street to the Ocean City Tabernacle.
Just quick reminder that this is the time of year when wildlife of all kinds – including red foxes – become very active in Ocean City. For the health and safety of both the animals and yourself, never feed wildlife. Healthy populations of many species have always co-existed with humans in Ocean City. Providing wild animals with food does not help them.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
