Wildwood To Hold 10th Annual Flags of Liberty Ceremony

The 10th Annual Flags of Liberty ceremony in Wildwood, New Jersey, will honor deceased veterans with a large-scale flag unfurling event slated for Memorial Day weekend.

According to a Cape May County Herald report, the event begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 22, with participant check-in starting at 9 a.m. at the Wildwoods Convention Center. A procession from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall to the Boardwalk will take place. 

The ceremony will culminate with the unfurling of each veteran's casket flag along the Boardwalk. The posting of the colors will be led by the Emerald Society Honor Guard, with bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace.” As the flags wave along the Wildwoods Boardwalk, the crowd will join in singing the national anthem and “God Bless America.”

More than 200 flags are expected to be unfurled during the living memorial, which will precede the Unlocking of the Ocean ceremony and the official start of the 2026 summer season.

The Greater Wildwood Elks #1896 Veterans Committee and The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority (GWTIDA) are co-hosting the event.

“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, in a statement shared with the Cape May County Herald.

Each family that registers a veteran will receive a commemorative packet including a T-shirt bearing the veteran's name, a pin, and four luncheon tickets. Additional tickets and shirts will be available for purchase.

Registration is free this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event and the United States' 250th anniversary of its founding. Sign up to participate at WildwoodsNJ.com/FOL. Support from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ and the Welcome Home Veterans Radio Show makes this event possible.