By Cindy Christy Fertsch
After the recent destruction of the giant rainbow made of clam shells, on the North Street beach in Ocean City, the community came together with an outpouring of love.
This is the beach where the magic began in December with the renowned North Street Christmas tree that made national news and drew thousands of visitors. The decorated tree was followed up in January with an enormous peace sign formed out of clam shells. Again, locals and visitors flocked to visit, take a photo and add their own clam shell with their hopes, and prayers for the new year written on it.
A nor’easter ultimately washed away much of the peace sign. Soon afterwards, a huge heart appeared for Valentines Day and most recently a rainbow.
Ocean City resident, Sue McElwee, along with her four children, masterminded each of these creations. “I had no idea people would respond the way they did. When I read the shells and hear the stories, it is so heartwarming,” shared McElwee. “Many people have told me they added shells with the names of loved ones they lost, and it means so much to them.”
Recently though, someone purposefully destroyed the rainbow that the McElwees created and also smashed the memorial shells that were so carefully strung along the dune fence.
“The rainbow was a symbol of hope and good things to come,” said McElwee. “We thought it would just be something nice for people to enjoy as they walked along the beach.”
In response to the destruction, there has been an outpouring of support for McElwee’s beach art. Sand sculptor, Kathy Pinto Nichols sculpted a large broken heart, filled in with the pieces of the broken shells. The words inscribed in the sand sculpture read: “Love Heals Broken Heart.” In response, McElwee said “I loved seeing something beautiful come from something so negative. Kathy’s sand art is incredible and inspirational, along with everyone that created the shell hearts by the fence.”
What’s next for McElwee? “I think we are going to let the dust settle for awhile. But we are definitely planning to rebuild,” shared McElwee.
