Announcement

Paver dedication for ‘Sarge’ Garlitz, Nov. 1

Monday, October 14, 2024

(Oct. 14, 2024) Friends of William Lawrence “Sarge” Garlitz will host a paver dedication ceremony at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines on Friday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m.

Garlitz, who passed away in April, served in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, and was a tireless volunteer, and a former Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation board member.

A Lonaconing, Maryland native, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1961, serving in various locations including French Morocco during the Vietnam era and Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He later joined the U.S. Army in 1974, providing security at Fort Meade, and returned to the Air Force in 1988, where he was involved in major operations, including a record-breaking drug bust in Texas. Garlitz earned multiple commendations and medals throughout his career, ultimately retiring with the rank of master sergeant after serving in locations such as England, Japan, and Dover Air Force Base.

Garlitz was a dedicated community member involved in various organizations, including the Boy Scouts, VFW, American Legion, and Vietnam Veterans of America. He worked closely with former Sen. Jim Mathias to pass legislation benefiting veterans, such as allowing slot machines for nonprofits in Worcester County, displaying POW/MIA flags at state buildings, and allowing veterans to have “veteran” on their driver’s licenses. He also served in leadership roles within the American Legion and was active in his local church, St. Mary’s Refuge of Sinners.

The ceremony will include a brief dedication and the placement of the new paver into the existing memorial.

The Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines draws thousands of people each year for Memorial Day and Veterans Day events, along with hundreds of local schoolchildren for annual educational programs.

The Veterans Memorial broke ground on Veterans Day 2004. The main part of the memorial is a large circle of brick pavers honoring U.S. military men and women, surrounded by brick-wall monuments for each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and flags for each branch flying high in the air. Under each brick wall is sand from the beaches of Normandy.

“The bricks and pavers tell the story. Those are the veterans that local families wanted to honor,” Veterans Memorial Foundation President Marie Gilmore said. “Anyone can purchase a brick for $75, and it’s inscribed with the name of someone who has served, or a paver for $150, which allows four lines of information.”

Proceeds help support the memorial and its education and outreach programs.

For more information, visit wocovets.org.

Announcement

Paver dedication for ‘Sarge’ Garlitz, Nov. 1

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