Elks ceremony honors memories of 9/11 tragedy, courage

Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge 2540 of Lewes held a Sept. 11 ceremony to pay homage to heroes and victims of the terrorist attacks in 2001.

The brief but moving observance was held outside near the Elks Lodge flagpole, with the flag positioned appropriately at half-mast.

As one of the nation’s foremost patriotic and charitable organizations for more than 157 years, the Elks are proud to honor the spirit of service that rose out of tragedy. In 2024 alone, the Elks contributed over $520 million in cash, goods and volunteer time supporting veterans, empowering young leaders through scholarships and strengthening local communities nationwide. With nearly 1,800 lodges and 800,000 members, the Elks remain committed to ensuring that the values of service, patriotism and remembrance are passed on to future generations.

Special guest speakers for this occasion were Denise Weston, a retired New York Police Department detective; Gordon Davis, Lewes Fire Department past fire chief and president, and currently deputy chief of operations for Wilmington Fire Department; Dallas Reynolds, Delaware State Police trooper; and Steve Smyk, former Delaware State Police trooper and past representative for Delaware House District 20 in Sussex County.

As local Elks members came together to reflect, so did many other communities across the United States. It is their yearly obligation to pay tribute to the firefighters, police officers, first responders, military members and ordinary citizens whose courage and sacrifice continue to strengthen America. It was particularly inspiring to hear all the honks from the autos driving by the outdoor ceremony on busy Beaver Dam Road, with patriotic everyday citizens offering their sounds of support and remembrance, from folks in fancy, expensive cars to blue-collar workers providing for their families in well-worn work trucks. For a brief moment, all came together in unity, reflection and gratitude.