OCMD Elk Lodge Honors American Heroes
OCEAN CITY, Md. (WJZ) -- Recognizing America's heroes.
Ocean City is proudly honoring our country's military members and veterans in a unique way.
Since the program started in 2014, Ocean City has honored 160 heroes up and down the Ocean City Boardwalk.
We're celebrating Independence Day and it's because of these gentleman that fought for our freedom and that's why we do it and the ones that are fighting now.
Each year Ocean City's Elk Lodge decorates the boardwalk with banner of our nation's active service members and veterans.
"They are living in Worcester County at this point we also plan on living up into the Vietnam era once we have identified all the living World War II and Korean Veterans and the other option is active duty military from Worcester that might be stationed elsewhere,' said Pat Riodan, of Hometown Heroes.
World War II veterans Thomas P Collins and Phillip D Reed are among the honorees.
'It's really nice to honor that those that served in WWII and any wars," Collins said.
"Very nice," Reed said, "but there's a lot of people like me."
Commemorating these humble heroes, who proudly defended our country.
"Honor your folks, honor your nation, honor your city," Reed said.
A patriotic greeting to beach goers and visitors as they celebrate Independence Day and the local heroes who found for their freedom.
"It's much more fun to be active about your nation than it is to be critical of it," Reed said.
These banners will come down in October and then will be given to the heroes during a special ceremony. New ones go up in May.
The Ocean City Elks Lodge sponsors the program with private donations.