A Look Back
By Fred Miller
Seventy-five years ago, May 30, 1947, Memorial Day was first observed at the newly developed Veterans Memorial Park on Wesley Avenue between 5th and 6th streets. Since 1915, Memorial Day was held on the lawn of City Hall, but in 1947 local veteran organizations and the City Planning Committee began a tradition that continues to this day.
On May 27, 1947, the World War I monument and the World War II Honor Roll were moved from the City Hall lawn to the park.
The stone monument with its bronze plaque bearing the names of the men and women who fought against the Kaiser’s legions was moved with loving care to its new foundation. It had overlooked the city’s most prominent street intersections since July 4, 1920, when it was dedicated at an elaborate patriotic ceremony.
The monument was a civic enterprise. It was purchased with $2,900 of voluntary contributions by local citizens. The drive for its construction began immediately after the World War by the Young Men’s Progressive League.
Moving the nine-ton monument was quite an assignment for contractor John Castaldi, because even slightest slip might have caused it to drop and break. But the operation was carried out smoothly without any problems.
The World War II Honor Roll, which was placed on the City Hall lawn on August 22, 1943, was also moved to Veterans Memorial Park.
Ocean City’s 1947 Memorial Day observance began a 9:15 a.m. when all the parade units assembled in front of the Music Pier on the Boardwalk. As the parade began, an airplane piloted by Richard T. Mayer, Commander of the American Legion, dropped a wreath at sea in memory of the Naval dead.
The parade processed south on the Boardwalk to 12th Street. It moved across town on 12th Street to Asbury Avenue and moved northward to 6th Street, then to Wesley Avenue and the new Veterans Memorial Park.
At 10 a.m., Mayor Clyde W. Struble was the first to speak. He began, “The world is still groping for that quality of leadership and character which will eliminate jealousy, envy and greed among all people. When we have found that, it will no longer be necessary to construct memorial tablets and honor rolls.”
Mayor Struble introduced Congressman T. Millet Hand who said, “We come together this morning to honor those who died that we might live in freedom.”
The 1947 Memorial Day program ended with prayers from local clergymen.
The observance of Memorial Day is one of Ocean City’s oldest and noblest traditions. At its core lies the most basic of the beliefs on which our country was founded: freedom is so precious it is worth the price of our lives to preserve it.
Ocean City’s annual Memorial Day ceremonies will begin at 11:00 o’clock at the Tabernacle.
One Response
Hi Fred, My father, Leroy Jeffries name is on this plaque. He served in France in WW 1. As a little kid, I always pointed out his name to my friends. He later became Post Commander of the local American Legion and was the Postmaster from about 1035 to 1954.