Ocean City Marks Memorial Day at Annual Service

On a spectacularly warm and sunny Memorial Day morning, a few hundred Ocean City residents and visitors took time away from the beach, boardwalk and barbecues to remember the United States veterans who died in service of their country.

The annual Memorial Day Service took place at 11 a.m. May 27 at Veterans Memorial Park (on Wesley Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets).

This year's event featured Judith A. Tapper as keynote speaker. Tapper is president of the American Gold Star Mothers of New Jersey and the mother of Navy SEAL David Tapper, who was killed on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan on Aug. 20, 2003.

"There's not a mother in America who wants to be a part of our organization," Tapper said of a group that serves the families of fallen service members. "To Gold Star families, every day is Memorial Day."

In her address, Tapper said it's important both to cherish the beautiful memories of the fallen and to pay tribute to them.

She called on all Americans to join the Gold Star Mothers in "prayerful support."

American Legion Post 524 Commander Bob Marzulli later asked for prayers for a post member who was deployed to Afghanistan today: Army Warrant Officer Luke Walsh.

The event also included remarks by Mayor Jay Gillian, the singing of the National Anthem and "God Bless America" by Ocean City fourth-grader Julia Wilson, the traditional "Reading of the Honor Roll," a list of the veterans with close ties to Ocean City who died during combat, and the playing of "Taps."