Maryland
102-year-old World War II veteran belts out national anthem at Maryland parade
A 102-year-old military veteran sang the national anthem on Sunday at a Veterans Day Parade in Frederick County, Maryland.
World War II veteran Wilbur “Jack” Myers kicked off the 93rd annual Brunswick Veterans Day Parade with a sterling rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
The Brunswick Veterans Day Parade is one of the oldest Veterans Day celebrations in the country, according to event organizers.
Myers’ historical impact
Myers was a U.S. Army Corporal while serving during World War II. He was a gunner in the 1st platoon, Company B, 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion.
According to his profile, Myers arrived in France in September 1944 and then went to the Netherlands to support the 104th Division and British forces in the Battle of Antwerp.
Later that year, he was fighting in the Ardennes region as part of the Battle of the Bulge.
In 1945, the 692nd crossed the Rhine River and advanced across Germany, arriving in Munich by April. Cpl. Myers earned a Bronze Star.
Myers and the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion were attached to the 42nd, 63rd, and 104th Infantry divisions during World War II, and they were also involved in the liberation of Dachau concentration camp when attached to the 42nd Infantry Division, according to The Best Defense Foundation.
In 2014, Myers returned to Europe to commemorate the 70th anniversary of “D-Day,” when allies invaded Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, according to several publications.
Baltimore’s Veterans Day Parade
The annual Baltimore City Veterans Day Parade took place on Saturday, beginning at the Washington Monument in the Mount Vernon neighborhood.
The parade featured a slew of military-supporting organizations, ROTC programs, and marching bands. WJZ was the proud media sponsor.
WJZ featured the Baltimore City College Marching Knights, who performed behind band director Jaylin Jackson.
“Typically, we go through the patriotic parade sequence, which has like three different songs, one including America the Beautiful,” Jackson said.
The Grand Marshal of the Baltimore parade was Retired Army General Larry Ellis, a native of Cambridge, Maryland, and the first African-American four-star general to have graduated from Morgan State University.
Over the course of his career in the U.S. Army, Ellis held leadership roles at every level across the globe, including South Korea, Europe, and even in the classroom.
“So the Army sent me to Indiana to get a master’s degree, to go to West Point, the United States Military Academy, to teach,” Ellis said.
Ellis’s career took him as far as commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces Command.
“It has responsibility for all of the Army forces in the Continental United States, except for training and special operations,” Ellis said.
In 2001, Ellis was promoted to the rank of four-star general, becoming the fourth African-American in the history of the U.S. Army to achieve this distinction.
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region.
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals’ first-round draft pick Chris Hacopian inked his first professional contract Wednesday, a moment made sweeter by the fact it was just a 30-minute drive from home to get to Nationals Park and put pen to paper.
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region. He’s from Potomac, Maryland, and played his high school ball at Winston Churchill, where he was named the 2022 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2022 Washington Post All-Met selection.
According to MLB.com, Hacopian grew up a Nationals fan, admiring the likes of Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and others. He also played his first two collegiate seasons at the University of Maryland, where his father Derek played before him, before transferring to Texas A&M for his junior season.
With the Aggies, Hacopian hit .319 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI across 42 games en route to being named First-Team All-Southeastern Conference and a Third-Team All-American by Baseball America, the Nationals said in a news release.
After inking his contract Wednesday, Hacopian donned his new jersey and ball cap and stepped onto D.C.’s beloved diamond as a part of the Nationals organization for the first time.
“That was so cool, oh my gosh. I’ve been in the stands like, 100 times, but being on the field is so different,” he said.
Hacopian was ranked 14th among MLB Draft prospects by MLB.com. The 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound second baseman boasted one of the best bats in college baseball, according to MLB.com, with excellent control over the strike zone and feel for the barrel, along with solid pop.
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The state said the five recently traveled together to “a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak.”
Maryland health officials confirmed five more measles cases, all in Carroll County.
“These individuals recently traveled together to a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak,” the state Department of Health said in a release.
The agency said others may have been exposed on the afternoon of July 13 in the emergency department waiting room at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster.
Another measles case recently prompted warnings from health officials in Maryland, Virginia and the District. On June 17, a Maryland resident traveled through Dulles International Airport and visited a D.C. urgent care clinic.
Measles is highly contagious. It can spread through the air through coughs, breathing, and sneezes. Early symptoms can include fevers of over 101 degrees, coughs, runny noses, watery eyes and face or body rashes.
It can take up to 21 days after exposure for the first symptoms to appear, and those who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles are especially vulnerable.
The five new measles cases in Maryland bring the state’s year-to-date total to nine. The state health department confirmed three cases in 2025, and one in each of the previous two years.
“All Marylanders should review potential exposure times, watch for symptoms, and confirm they are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations,” the health department said.
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Baltimore may be under an extreme heat alert, but residents can dream about autumn, as tickets are now on sale for the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show returning to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in October.
This three-day celebration of home and garden takes place from Friday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Expect hundreds of exhibitors, local makers, home improvement experts, family-friendly experiences and celebrity guests. The show offers everyone the chance to explore the very latest in home improvement, landscaping, outdoor living and decor, the chance to take part in hands-on experiences, and do some holiday shopping all under one roof.
This year’s show will have more than 300 exhibitors, including more than 100 crafters from around Maryland in the Makers Market. There will be unique exhibits, stage presentations and a special appearance by Chase Morrill, Ashley Morrill-Eldridge and Ryan Eldridge from Magnolia Network’s hit series “Maine Cabin Masters.” The three will have two Main Stage appearances, one on Friday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. and the second on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12 p.m.
“As temperatures start to drop and the holiday season comes into view, the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show is a place to gather ideas, meet local experts and get inspired before the busy season begins,” said Dave Paul, show manager, in a statement. “Whether attendees are planning a home project, looking for outdoor living ideas or getting a head start on holiday shopping, the show brings together resources and experiences for every kind of homeowner, maker and DIY enthusiast.”
In addition to the Makers Market and stars of “Maine Cabin Masters”, the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show will have a petting zoo, a Kids Market where attendees can shop from local children, and much more.
Tickets are available online and at the door. Prices are as follows:
Online:
- Adults: $8
- Senior Citizens (60+): $6
- Children (ages 6-12): $4
- 4-Pack Online: $30 for four tickets, valid for one admission each and one day only
At the door:
- Adults: $10
- Senior Citizens (60+): $8
- Children (ages 6-12): $4
- Friday & Saturday: $4 after 4 p.m. at the door only
Special Offers:
- Active and retired military personnel, veterans, firefighters and police officers receive free admission all weekend, along with one guest, with valid ID at the box office.
- Attendees who show a CharmPass app, Light RailLink ticket or eligible transit pass at the box office receive free admission any day of the show. One admission is available per pass.
The Maryland State Fairgrounds is located at 2200 York Road in Lutherville-Timonium.
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