Operation SEAs The Day’s “Warrior Beach Week” is the latest event scuttled by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Wounded veterans and their families from all across the country would have come to Bethany Beach this September for the eighth annual “Warrior Beach Week.”
Annette Reeping is the media chairperson for Operation SEAs The Day. She says the decision to cancel was made with a “heavy heart.”
“But if you look at all the dynamics of Operation SEAs The Day," Reeping said. "We sponsor approximately 180 people each year to the Bethany Beach area to take advantage of all the amenities that we’re all used to.”
Reeping says the program is specifically designed to pull people together and organizers thought that’s just not realistic right now.
“This year, even in working with the organization to look for qualifying families, they weren’t sure people would be willing (or able) to travel here (to Bethany Beach),” Reeping said. "We have a 14 day quarantine restriction here in this area. The businesses who are tremendous supporters throughout the communities are still not open yet. So, for the September time frame, there are a lot of things that are unsure. We thought for the safety of the volunteers, the communities and our guests, that we should delay it (the event) for one year.”
She says they hope to make the event bigger and better than ever next year with a huge welcoming reception, beach time, a ladies spa day and a parade to the Freeman Stage for dinner.
Reeping says Operation SEAs The Day (OSTD) is asking people who normally donate to them to instead donate to other veterans organizations or groups serving people impacted by the pandemic.
