Chesapeake Beach, MD – The Town of Chesapeake Beach will be decked in red, white and blue Memorial Day weekend as the municipality hosts its Seventh annual Stars and Stripes Festival. Town staff member Connie O’Dell told TheBayNet.com that the big secret has finally been revealed—rhythm and blues diva Deanna Bogart and her band are booked and will be providing the entertainment Sunday afternoon, May 27 during Family Fun Day at Kellam’s Field. The Deanna Bogart Band was on the bill at the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival and for contractual purposes promotion of her appearance in Chesapeake Beach had to be embargoed. O’Dell explained town officials made the best of that legal quagmire by conducting a “guess the mystery artist” contest on the event’s Facebook page. The winner of the contest will be announced Sunday at Family Fun and the winner must be present to claim the prize—a $500 gift card for an overnight stay at the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa.
The festival’s theme this year is “Patriotism and Me.” The event begins with an opening ceremony Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m. at Veterans’ Memorial Park. Musical selections will be performed by the United States Naval Academy Band Wind Quintet. The Star Spangled Banner and other patriotic songs will be performed by Dana & Jeremy. For the second year in a row the keynote address at Stars and Stripes’ opening ceremony will be delivered by an individual who will use an alter ego to talk about an American’s perspective of wartime sacrifice. Dr. Hal “Toby” Raper will portray President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. A public reception with “FDR” will be held at 5 p.m. at Mamma Lucia on the Bay.
O’Dell said Raper portrays FDR in many venues, including aboard the SS John W Brown, a World War II Liberty ship. Raper, a dentist by trade, grew up in Georgia. His mother knew FDR before he became president. She was a licensed therapist and Roosevelt often visited Warm Springs, GA for rest and therapy due to polio. The only man in the nation’s history elected to four terms as president died at Warm Springs in April of 1945.
A Stars and Stripes first will take place Sunday, as a non-motorized parade—children riding bikes and pulling wagons—will begin at the Chesapeake Beach Town Hall and conclude inside Kellam’s Field. Participants will gather at town hall starting at 10 a.m. “It’s the first time we’ve done it,” said O’Dell. “We’re excited. It will be like a small town patriotic event.”
Family Fun Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A picnic lunch sponsored by American Legion Post 206 will be served at noon. Also at high noon “A Musical Salute to America’s Military” with Spam Time. That radio reenactment performance will be followed at 1:30 by the Deanna Bogart Band. The entertainment is being sponsored by the Rod ‘N’ Reel, Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa.
Marti Gilpin, the town’s Community Involvement coordinator, there would be vendors selling barbecue, the Kona Ice truck, Calvert Kettlecorn and a funnel cake maker. Other Fun Day participants include Creative Characters with Kay’s” doing face-painting, a slide and an obstacle course. Additionally, Scorpion Brewery and Bay Wine and Spirits will be on site with drinks for adults.
On Monday, Memorial Day, May 28, a ceremony will be held a Veterans’ Memorial Park starting at 10 and hosted by the American Legion, Stallings-Williams Post 206. The post will host on open house later in the day. The town will participate in the National Moment of Silence at 3 p.m.
For more information on the Stars and Stripes Festival, visit the Town of Chesapeake Beach’s web site
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com