Myriad ways to observe Memorial Day this weekend
Memorial Day’s meaning never can be forgotten nor repeated enough.
At the first national commemoration of what was then called Decoration Day — on May 30, 1868 — at Arlington National Cemetery, a former major general from the Grand Army of the Republic spoke from his heart and experience from the Civil War. The native Buckeye, James Abram Garfield, later became the 20th U.S. president and, in his first year in office, the second commander in chief to die from an assassin’s bullet:
“If silence is ever golden, it must be here, beside the graves of 15,000 men, whose lives were more significant than speech, and whose death was a poem, the music of which can never be sung. … [T]hey summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”
This weekend across the Grand Strand, whether living or vacationing here, take a moment and take your pick of events for observing Memorial Day, which falls on Monday.
Also, as another Army veteran, President Ronald Reagan, said in a Memorial Day address at Arlington in 1986: “It’s a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It’s a day to be with the family and remember.”
If you go
Seventh annual ‘Military Appreciation Days’
By | City of Myrtle Beach and PGBA TriCare LLC
Special events include |
▪ Vietnam war-era helicopters on display, six aircraft in all, from N.C. Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, through May 29, outside Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Oak Street at 21st Avenue North, and Ocean Boulevard, between Eighth and Ninth avenues North.
▪ Veterans March (not a parade), 9 a m. Monday, with Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Ocean Boulevard, 16th Avenue North southward to Ninth Avenue North, with brief ceremony at end.
▪ Memorial Day Ceremony, with Grand Strand Patriotic Alliance, 11 a.m. Monday in plaza of Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Oak Street at 21st Avenue North, with concert by Festive Brass of Myrtle Beach at 10:30 a.m.
▪ Military Officers Association of America Grand Strand Chapter annual Golf Tournament, May 25, with lunch at noon, tourney at 2 p.m., Legends Golf & Resort’s Heathland Course in Myrtle Beach, $80 individual or $300 four-person team, and $5 discount for veterans. Benefiting college scholarships for Junior Reserves Officers’ Training Corps’ high school seniors, wounded warrior vacations in Myrtle Beach, and veterans outreach programs. 903-4047 or email gerald.terwilliger@yahoo.com; or at 299-0167 or email gyoungman @sc.rr.com.
Information | 918-1014 or www.militaryappreciationdays.com
Memorial Day Services
By | Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10420 of Murrells Inlet
When, what and where |
▪ Placing of flags by veterans and schoolchildren, 9 a.m. Friday in Belin Memorial United Methodist Church cemetery, 4182 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet.
▪ Formal service, noon Monday at VFW Post, 4359 U.S. 17 Bypass S., Murrells Inlet, with guest speaker Ed Piotrowski, chief meteorologist at WPDE-TV 15.
Also | As of Sunday, this Post will be a nonsmoking site.
Information | 651-6900
Annual ‘Red, White and Blue Salute to Veterans’
What | U.S. flags placed across gardens at patriotic sculpture and artwork created by veterans (list available at welcome center)
When | Saturday-Monday, during regular daily hours, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where | Brookgreen Gardens, on U.S. 17, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach
How much | Free with admission, lasts seven days: $15 ages 13-64, $13 ages 65 and older, and $7 ages 4-12, and free ages 3 and younger.
Information | 235-6000, 800-849-1931 or www.brookgreen.org
Also | Annual 5K/One Mile Race, 6 p.m. Sunday, with room for 400 runners, for $30 advance and $35 day of race for 5K, and $15 and $20, respectively, for one-miler. Gardens open at 5 p.m. for runners, and fee includes one-day pass to tour gardens at a later date. Register at www.festivalpromos.com. For more details, email mike@festivalpromos.com.
‘Memorial Saturday Music & Cookout’
When | Noon-6 p.m. Saturday
With | Music 1-5 p.m. by The Fat Jack Duo
Where | La Belle Amie Vineyard, 1120 St. Joseph Road, Little River, just west of North Myrtle Beach Middle School
How much | $3, or free with donation of two canned or dry food items to help local food bank
Information | 399-9463 or labelleamie.com
Town of Surfside Beach
What, when and where |
▪ Memorial Day Cookout – 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Surfside and Yaupon drives, just west of Surfside Beach Pier, including music by The Swash Tones. (Food and beverages for sale on site.)
▪ Memorial Day Service – 2:30 p.m. Monday in Passive Park, at veterans memorial, at Surfside and Willow drives, by Horry County Memorial Library Surfside Beach branch
Information | 650-9548 or www.surfsidebeach.org
Memorial Day Celebration
What and who | Honoring of local veterans, with concert afterward by Andrew Thielen Big Band.
When | 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Where | Rourk Gardens, on Main Street in Shallotte, N.C., across from Jerome’s Steak & Seafood.
Information | 910-253-2031 or www.brunswickcountync.gov/Portals/0/BC/files/parksandrec/BBC-032715-Y-4.pdf
Memorial Day Service
By | North Myrtle Beach Memorial Gardens, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10804, American Legion Post 186, the Ladies Auxiliary in Myrtle Beach, the Knights of Columbus from Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church and the Grand Strand Gold Star Mothers
When | 11 a.m. Monday
Where | North Myrtle Beach Memorial Gardens, at U.S. 17, S.C. 9, S.C. 90 and Nixon Crossroads
With | Music by the Myrtle Beach Regional Pipe Band, at 10:30 a.m.
Information | 249-2932
Memorial Day Service
By | Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 925 Grand Strand
When | 11 a.m. Monday
Where | Old Horry County Courthouse, 1201 Third Ave., Conway
Including | Reading of names at the Vietnam War monument and bell ringing
Information | 492-0005 or www.vva925.org
Fourth annual ‘Memorial Day Tribute’
What | Screening of “Uncommon Courage: The D-Day Battle of Graignes,” about the battle between U.S. paratroopers and German forces, including recollections by a French survivor and observations by former Myrtle Beach Mayor Bob Hirsch, who piloted C-47 troop transports during World War II.
When | 2 p.m. Monday
Where | Grand 14 Cinema, at The Market Common in Myrtle Beach.
How much | Free, with seating first come, first served.
Includes | Public recognition of veterans and active-duty military, patriotic music and a color guard.
Information | 282-0550, at theater.
Easy escapes
Memorial Day Ceremony
When | 10-10:45 a.m. Monday
Where | Florence National Cemetery, 803 E. National Cemetery Road, Florence, east of U.S. 52 and south of U.S. 76
Speakers | Ron Walters, of National Cemetery Administration and interim undersecretary for memorial affairs, and Alan Wilson, S.C. attorney general.
With | Retired Army Col. Barringer F. Wingard Jr., master of ceremonies; Florence Veterans Honor Guard; Civil War re-enactors represented by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Charles Devans Jr. Camp 10, the Sons of Confederate Veterans 7th Brigade Honor Guard, and the Pee Dee Light Artillery 1st Illinois US Artillery
Information | 843-669-8783
Memorial Day Ceremony
When | 11-11:45 a.m. Monday
Where | On USS Yorktown (CV-10) aircraft carrier, at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant – also home to USS Laffey (DD-724) destroyer, USS Clamagore (SS-43) submarine, and Medal of Honor Museum – 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant. From U.S. 17 south heading into Charleston, turn left on McGrath Darby Boulevard, the last traffic light before the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, and continue straight on to Bud Darby Lane., which turns into Patriots Point Road.
Including | Eyrie Overtones handbell choir peformance, and a film tribute.
How much | Free 10-11 a.m. only; parking $5.
Visit | 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily, for $20 ages 12-61; $17 seniors and active duty military with ID; $12 ages 6-11; and free for active-duty military in uniform and ages 5 and younger.
Information | 843-884-2727, 866-831-1720 or www.patriotspoint.org.
50th annual Memorial Day Ceremony
When | 5:45 p.m. Monday
Where | Battleship North Carolina, at U.S. Routes 17, 74, 76 and 421 in Wilmington, N.C.
With | Duke Ladd Music performing military and patriotic arrangements, and two guest speakers: Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Lusk, Adjutant General, N.C. National Guard, and U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.
How much | Free
Also | Visit battleship with expanded summer hours as of Friday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., for (plus tax) $14 ages 12 and older; $10 ages 65 and older, and active duty or retired military with ID; $6 ages 6-11; and free ages 5 and younger
Information | 910-251-5797 or www.battleshipnc.com
If you watch
What | 26th annual “National Memorial Day Concert”
Where | Live from U.S. Capitol west lawn in Washington, D.C.
When | 8-9:30 p.m. Sunday, with replay right afterward, 9:30-11 p.m.
With | Actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise, co-hosts, with singers Gloria Estefan, Tessanne Chin, Katherine Jenkins and Russell Watson; actress Stefanie Scott; and the National Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Jack Everly, U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers’ Chorus of the United States Army Field Band, U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters and U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants
Airing on | PBS: including ETV outlets WHMC-TV 23 of Conway and WITV-TV 7 of Charleston, and WUNJ-TV 39 of Wilmington, N.C.
Information | www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert
Other military events/salutes
‘A War on Two Fronts: Fighting for Victory at Home and Abroad’
What | New exhibit about black veterans from World War II, through August
By | The Athenaeum Press of Coastal Carolina University
Where | Horry County Museum, 805 Main St., Conway, next to Horry County Memorial Library Conway branch
Museum open | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays
How much | Free
Information | 915-5320 or www.horrycountymuseum.org
Military salute by Legends
What | Free ticket for U.S. military and veterans with the purchase of one full-price, regular adult ticket, for shows through May 30, with ID and pickup at box office, with code PMI.
Where | Legends in Concert, 2925 Hollywood Drive, Myrtle Beach, at U.S. 17 Bypass and 29th Avenue North, in Lakeshore Village, next to Planet Hollywood, across from Broadway at the Beach
Lineup of tribute artists | The Blues Brothers, Katy Perry, Elvis Presley, and Prince, all through May 30; Buddy Holly, through Saturday; and Kenny Chesney, Monday-May 30
When | 8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays
How much | Plus tax: $38.95 or $43.95 for ages 17 and older, and $13.95 or $18.95 ages 3-16; booth $49.95 and $24.95, respectively per age group; and VIP $46.95 for all
Information | 238-7827, 800-960-7469 or www.legendsinconcert.com/myrtle-beach
Embrace veterans’ nights with Myrtle Beach Pelicans
By | Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of Chicago Cubs, and Embrace Hospice
To | Extra salutes to veterans at select baseball games
Where | TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark, 1251 21st Ave. N., Myrtle Beach, at Robert M. Grissom Parkway
When | All 7:05 p.m.:
▪ Saturdays – May 23; June 6, 13 and 20; July 11 and 25; and Aug. 8, 15 and 29
▪ “Military Appreciation Night,” July 2 – rescheduled from May 14 – with distribution baseball card sets honoring 35 local veterans, to first 1,000 fans through the gates, and Pelicans players wearing camouflage jerseys that will be auctioned that night
How much | Per game:
▪ Advance: $9 left-field bleachers, $11 upper-deck reserved and $13 field box – and each $2 more on game day
▪ Military discount – with ID at box office, receive $3 discount for all games
Listen | All games on WRNN-AM 1450, an ESPN Radio affiliate, and at www.espnmyrtlebeach.com
Information | 918-6000, 877-918-8499 or www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com
Honor Flight Lowcountry
For | World War II-era veterans – and veterans from any conflict who are terminally ill, and Korean War-era veterans, also invited to apply and join the trip, based on space
When | Sept. 12
From | Charleston International Airport
How much |
▪ Free for veterans and volunteers
▪ $500 for guardians
Information |
▪ 843-906-0399
▪ Email Paul Wilbur, secretary/treasurer, paul.wilbur@subsidium.us
▪ U.S. mail: Honor Flight Lowcountry, P.O. Box 12308, Charleston, S.C. 29422
22nd Honor Flight of South Carolina
For | World War II-era veterans living in South Carolina (Korean War-era veterans also invited to apply, and join the trip, based on space)
When | Round trip on Oct. 14 (pre-flight meeting time and date to be announced)
Where | From Columbia Regional Airport
How much |
▪ Free for veterans
▪ $500 for guardians/helpers, adults only
Information | For details on applications:
▪ 803-582-8826
▪ U.S mail: Honor Flight of South Carolina, P.O. Box 292421, Columbia, S.C. 29229
Contact STEVE PALISIN at 444-1764.
This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Myriad ways to observe Memorial Day this weekend."