Flags are unfurled in tribute to deceased military veterans during the Flags of Liberty ceremony. (Photo courtesy of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority)
Hundreds of families and supporters will gather at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the Wildwoods Convention Center to honor their deceased veteran heroes on Memorial Day weekend.
During the annual Flags of Liberty event in Wildwood on Friday, May 22 at 10 a.m., participants will unfurl the casket flags of their loved ones in a powerful tribute of remembrance and respect.
The Flags of Liberty ceremony will begin at the Wildwoods Convention Center turnaround entrance, in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, before moving to the nearby Wildwood Boardwalk.
Participants will honor their heroes by holding up a chain of unfurled American flags in remembrance. The event will feature the unfurling of over 200 American flags in honor of fallen veterans, according to a news release.
The remembrance will serve as a moving tribute ahead of the Wildwoods’ Unlocking of the Ocean ceremony and the official opening of the 2026 summer season, kicking off the Memorial Day weekend.
The Flags of Liberty ceremony will mark the 10th anniversary of the event and the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding. Registration is free and available at WildwoodsNJ.com/FOL.
“Each year, the Flags of Liberty ceremony ensures each veteran is remembered and treated with dignity, bringing families and supporters together into a living memorial of their loved ones and their service,” said Lory Kondor, member of the Elks Veteran Committee and event organizer. “The Friday of Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to reflect on our shared love of our country and to honor those who defended our freedoms.”
The event honors the memory of fallen veterans while also bringing awareness and support to the needs of veterans and their families. It is hosted by the Greater Wildwood Elks #1896 Veterans Committee and the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, or GWTIDA.
“The Flags of Liberty ceremony reminds us why we celebrate Memorial Day, and we’re thrilled to put the ceremony at the forefront of our Memorial Day weekend festivities. It’s our hope that the ceremony welcomes visitors to the Wildwoods, inviting them to reflect on the holiday as they enjoy their time on the island,” said Louis Belasco, GWTIDA executive director.
The Greater Wildwood Elks and the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority have set a goal to honor 250 veterans. The total number of participants is expected to exceed the goal, due to free registration made possible with the help of new sponsors Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.J. and the Welcome Home Veterans radio show.
Each family that registers their veteran is given a T-shirt with their veteran’s name printed on the back as well as a Flags of Liberty commemorative pin. They will also be given four tickets to a light buffet luncheon.
Additional luncheon tickets are available for $10 each, while additional T-shirts with a veteran’s name are available for $30 each.
State and local dignitaries as well as guest speakers will share remarks about the meaning of Memorial Day and the veterans being honored in the ceremony. Afterward, participants will proceed to the Boardwalk and prepare to unfurl their veteran’s casket flag in a chain of patriotic display.
The Posting of the Colors will be led by the Emerald Society Honor Guard, accompanied by bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace,” creating a stirring and emotional moment. As the flags wave along the Wildwood Boardwalk, the crowd will join in singing the national anthem and “God Bless America.”
Participant check-in begins at 9 a.m. at the Wildwoods Convention Center, followed by the ceremony at 10 a.m.
For those who want to honor a veteran by unfurling a casket flag in their memory, click here. For more information visit WildwoodsNJ.com/FOL or email [email protected].
