Thousands remember fallen soldiers at Worcester County Veterans Memorial

Sharyn O’Hare, the co-founder of the Worcester County Veterans Memorial says, “It’s a memorial that is done with the love of the people.”

Close to three- thousand people filled the grounds at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Berlin to remember our troops on Memorial Day. Although this was the tenth year for this event, there was something different this time around. It was a very special American flag.

O’Hare continues, “This flag represents all those who have fought and died on foreign soils.”

It was flown for the first time at the American military cemetery in Normandy in 2004. It flew for the second time at the dedication for the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in 2005; and for the last time it graced the Worcester County Memorial’s tenth anniversary.    

O’Hare goes on, “We put sand under each one of the flag poles and under each one of the walls from the Normandy beaches.

The flag also flew in honor of U.S. Army Corporal Willis Walker. He is the uncle of Navy Veteran and former Ocean Pines resident, George Reiswig. George tells 47 ABC the family calls his uncle Willie.

Reiswig says, “He participated in a lot of military action; North Africa, Italy, Sicily, and then eventually landed in Normandy and unfortunately was killed. I get choked up, it’s a very emotional time.”

However, Reiswig says in the mix of emotions he’s overflowing pride. He says he knows the his uncle’s legacy is living on.

Reiswig continues, “I think Willie like most veterans would have been embarrassed by all this attention, but at the same time I think it’s very deserving of the honor.”

The American flag flown at the Veteran’s Memorial will be retired and put on permanent display at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club.