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Georgetown hosts Sussex Memorial Day ceremony

Veterans, political and service organizations honor fallen heroes with wreaths
May 29, 2023

The Georgtown Kiwanis Club and Korean War Veterans Association sponsored the annual Sussex County Memorial Day Ceremony on The Circle May 28 in front of the Sussex County Courthouse.

Guest speaker U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. First Class Justin Downen talked about the importance of living lives that honor America’s fallen heroes. As a member of the Third Special Forces Group, he served three tours in Iraq from 2007-09. He said most of his friends were wounded, but all recovered and returned to active duty. He also helped train members of the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Force. In 2011, he left active duty and joined the police. Almost immediately, he said, he saw a need to help children. “It’s easier to build strong children than it is to fix broken adults,” he said.

He founded the Green Beret Project to reach out to children in each of Delaware’s three counties.

Also taking part in the ceremony were Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, emcee; Sussex Central High School JROTC; Georgetown Mayor Bill West; Deacon Peter Cornell of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown; singer Cathy Gorman; 198th Army National Guard Signal Battalion in Georgetown; Sussex Central band director Ben Ables and student Kylie Youse.

The highlight of the ceremony was the laying of wreaths by Boy Scout Troop 95 presented by Georgetown-area veterans and community organization.

 

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