Emily Chappell

The (Salisbury) Daily Times

Chants of “Trump,” “USA” and “build that wall” rang out throughout a high school gym as Republican front-runner Donald Trump addressed residents of the Eastern Shore on Wednesday.

Trump took the stage at about 7:30 p.m. as music blared and people cheered. Much of the speech was met with shouts and whistles of support.

By the time he spoke, people had been waiting for hours to see the man who promised he will “take back this country.”

A sea of red hats and white lettering – that read “Make America Great Again” – surrounded Stephen Decatur High School near Berlin, Maryland, all throughout the afternoon, even before school let out for the day.

Doors, while originally set to open around 4 p.m., didn’t open until closer to 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. after law enforcement swept the building. But that didn’t stop Trump supporters from lining up.

Toward the front of the line were Lee Tilghman and Anna Foultz, both decked out in red, white and blue apparel. The women, of Ocean Pines, Maryland, were excited to see Trump speak.

“This is my dream. I always wanted to meet him,” Foultz said.

The 90-year-old woman said she brought two boxes of Girl Scout cookies in the hopes of giving them to Trump.

“I’ve admired him all my life,” she added.

Another front-of-the-line supporter was Donna Moulton, of Ocean City.

She chuckled when asked about her placement in line. She’s “lucky” she managed to get up front, Moulton added.

Tanya Knott, of Berlin, Maryland, said this was her very first Trump rally, something she was “excited” about.

Not a lot of candidates come out to areas like Maryland’s Eastern Shore, she said, so his visit was something she definitely had to see.

Knott, one of the owners of Whisker’s Bar & Grill, came out Wednesday with friends and co-workers.

She was happy to support Trump because he thinks “outside the box.” Being a small-business owner, that’s important.

“I’m tired of the same old same old,” she added.

Not everyone who came to see the Republican front-runner were local, though.

Ed Lewis, of White Marsh, Maryland, made the trip down to the Eastern Shore for his very first Trump rally.

“I wanted to come down and see the man who’s going to change this country,” Lewis said.

Trump protesters and supporters surrounded school property throughout the afternoon. A large police force was present, with law enforcement agencies from Berlin, Ocean City, Worcester County and more on the grounds.

In the afternoon, Lt. Andy McGee of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office said so far, things had been going well.

“So far, so good,” McGee said.

Trump supporter Robert Willis said he and the protesters both had a right to be there. But he wasn’t concerned about them, though.

Instead, Willis, of Ocean Pines, said he was very excited about the presidential candidate’s visit. He thinks Trump would be good for the area.

“I thought it was oddly amazing” that Trump chose the Eastern Shore for a trip, he said. “I think Trump’s great and I want him to be president.”

Among the many Trump supporters, several wearing the now-famous red hat, others with buttons pinned on and some holding signs and flags, were people making a buck or two off the hype.

Richard Kienzle, of Tennessee, was one of those people making a profit. He was there selling shirts in the grass across the street from the school. Even hours before Trump arrived and before the massive lines emerged, a group was consistently around his table.

But for Kienzle, it’s not just about the sale. While he tries to hit all the rallies around the country to sell his merchandise, he’s also there to support the Republican candidate.

“I believe in Trump,” he said. “I like the way he communicates.”

Contact Emily Chappell@EmilyChappell13.