BERLIN — The Ole Fashioned Memorial Day Parade Committee has announced the continuance of the annual celebration on Monday, May 29 to honor the late Jesse H. Turner.
Turner was a founding member of the committee who served as parade chairman since its inception. To honor Turner, the parade committee is reaching out to all of the former participants and hoping to recruit new entries to commemorate the long standing service Turner gave to the Berlin community at large and to this particular event in general.
The grand marshal for the parade will be Barbara Purnell, Berlin’s Citizen of the Year accompanied by LaToya Purnell, her granddaughter, who was recently elected to the Snow Hill Town Council, and County Commissioner Diana Purnell. These three ladies are representing the African American community in the political arena.
There will be morning patriotic activities with Duncan Showell Post 231 of the American Legion visiting and honoring the dead at Whaleyville’s Pulletts United Methodist Church, Bishopville’ Curtis United Methodist Church and St Paul and New Bethel Church cemeteries to honor deceased Veterans.
The children will enjoy the moon bounce and many other planned games. Vendors will also have fish and chicken, snowballs, drinks and other wares for sale as usual in the parking lot area. A complete day of fun and excitement are planned to commemorate the day and give honor to Turner who worked diligently every year to provide the day’s celebration.
On Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m., the parade will begin at Stephen Decatur Middle School on Seahawk Road and proceed through the usual parade route to William Edward Henry Park on Flower Street in Berlin.
Since Turner himself was an Armed Service veteran, the committee is hoping all regional veteran service organizations will participate in the parade. Any church or civic groups wanting to join in the celebration should contact Committee Chairperson Gabriel Purnell at 410-641-1988 by May 20 in order to secure a place in the parade.