CHESTERTOWN — Asked to step out from the crowd onto High Street to be recognized, veterans attending the Memorial Day ceremony in downtown Chestertown on Monday, May 25 stand at attention and salute the American flag during the traditional military bugle call “Assembly,” followed by “Taps.”
At far right in the front row, with hand over his heart, is Vietnam War veteran Wayne Gilchrest, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient who delivered the keynote address.
As skies cleared and a light rain stopped, Gilchrest said, “It’s turning out to be a beautiful day in a beautiful place with beautiful people.”
He spoke for about 10 minutes — without notes.
Gilchrest is a former Kent County High School teacher who went on to serve 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives serving the people of Maryland’s 1st Congressional District.
A parade down High Street preceded Gilchrest’s talk.
Additional coverage of the 2026 Memorial Day observance in Chestertown will appear in a future edition of The Evening Enterprise.
— Photo by Trish McGee
