Thank You!

On behalf of the Wicomico Eastside Chamber of Commerce, I would like to thank everyone who helped make this years Independence Day Celebration at the Willards Elementary School a success beyond anyones wildest expectations. You have to keep in mind that this was supposed to be a fireworks display only, but grew to include vendors, private groups, and organizations who affect our lives in different ways yet we may seldom think about it. I've heard from many people that they believe between 2000 and 3000 people visited the event yesterday. We see this as a huge success.

We'd like to thank the following:

Public Safety:

Dale White, Bill Frisch, and the entire Willards Volunteer Fire Co. Without their efforts to coordinate available resources to ensure the safety of the visitors and residents this event would have never taken place.

Powellville and Pittsville Volunteer Fire Companies who dedicated equipment and manpower to supplement Willards Vol. Fire Co.

Wicomico County Fire Police who made sure that parking never became a problem and for making sure that fire apparatus had a way to get out quickly in the event a fire/EMS emergency occurred in another area. Thank God that never happened.

The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office for providing four Deputies to make sure that law enforcement would be immediately available should the need arise. Thankfully, everyone got along perfectly.

The Fire Marshall's Office and Mike Ash of Bay Fireworks for working together to make sure that the fireworks display was perfectly safe. I can't say how astounded I was at the display. Outstanding work, Mike.


We'd like to thank the Town of Willards for their support in holding this event in their town, as well as their monetary support to help make it happen.

We'd like to thank the Wicomico County Board of Education. Without the use of the property surrounding the Willards Elementary School, this event would not have been possible.

We'd like to thank the Gathering Tree church for providing free water and snacks to the visitors.

We'd like to thank the Tabernacle Church for providing LIVE Music and snow cones for the visitors.

We'd to thank the following vendors:

Eastern Shore Jeep Assoc. and their friends who displayed their Jeeps and hot rods, as well as selling cool glow in the dark necklaces for the kids.

Whitey's Barbecue and Station 7 Restaurant who provided some of the best food you can imagine. The people seemed to go back time and time again.

The girls (they know who they are) who sold lemonade for "Alex's Lemonade" and raised $243.75 to help in the fight against childhood cancer.

I'd personally like to thank the members of the Wicomico Eastside Chamber of Commerce and other members of the community who donated the money and time to make this event, not only possible, but a great success, as well as those who came out this morning to clean up the property on which the event occurred and made it look like we were never there.

Let's not to forget to thank God for holding the storms back until we could finish the show, pack up, and get home safely.

We will now relax for the rest of the summer. In the fall the Chamber will critique the event and begin to make plans for next year.

Thanks again to everyone. Hope to see you next year.