OCEAN CITY — Stephen Decatur High School’s graduation procession on the Boardwalk will return after resort officials signed off on the request this week.
Decatur’s graduation procession last spring during the height of COVID with stay-at-home orders still in place was perhaps one of the most feel-good events of the early pandemic. For much of the spring last year with gathering limits and other restrictions in place, it appeared Decatur’s class of 2020 would not have a graduation ceremony.
The town of Ocean City then partnered with the Berlin high school on a unique concept of a graduation procession down the Boardwalk. The graduating seniors went down the Boardwalk in a motorcade of sorts with parents, family and friends lining the promenade and cheering them on.
Although many restrictions have eased, it remained uncertain what Decatur’s class of 2021’s graduation would look like this year. On Monday, the Mayor and Council had before them a request from Decatur to renew approval for the Boardwalk graduation procession again this year and the council unanimously approved the request.
A good news story. Keep this new tradition going! We all like it!