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Flags for Heroes up in time for Election Day, Veterans Day

Jim Hellier of the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club places one of 500 flags at Cape Henlopen High School as part of the annual Flags for Heroes event. NICK ROTH PHOTOS
November 2, 2020

A total of 500 American flags will greet voters as they arrive to vote Nov. 3 at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. The Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club continued its annual Flags for Heroes tradition by placing rows of flags along Kings Highway. Although the effort was done for Veterans Day, it also coincides this year with Election Day.

Flags for Heroes typically occurs over Memorial Day weekend, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced rotarians to postpone to the fall. Bill Huntley, who organizes the event with Dave Keller and Jim Hellier, said community response has been outstanding. The club usually raises about $40,000 from Flags for Heroes, but this fall they’ve already reached $54,000, with sponsorships still coming in.

Medallions honoring veterans, active-duty military and first responders are attached to each flag. So far, 570 medallions have been purchased, and the club expects nearly 600.

Flags for Heroes is one of two major fundraisers Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club holds each year. The other is a trail guide. 

Rotary uses proceeds from the project to support numerous charities in the area.

Darryl Sykes, a member of the Cape Henlopen High School JROTC program, has a good time as he places flags.
Gerry Smith unravels a flag.
Mary Jo Porreca, Rotary Club board member and communications director, adds a medallion to a flag.
Lt. Col. Ronald Erale of the Cape JROTC program places a medallion on a flag.
Bruce Summer walks along the line of American flags that front Kings Highway in Lewes.
Dave Keller makes sure the medallion is secured to the flag.
A medallion features a photograph from last year.
500 flags line Kings Highway in Lewes.
Lt. Col. Ronald Erale checks out the flags.
500 flags are very visible from Kings Highway in Lewes.
Janine Fitzgerald walks between rows of flags.
John Li makes sure the flag is secured properly.

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