Louis Geibel salutes during the Memorial Day ceremony at American Legion Post 17 in Lewes. The 89-year-old said he served in the Army National Guard during the Vietnam War. The ceremony honored veterans from all wars and branches of the service. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander, left, and U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers lay a wreath in memory of those who gave their lives for their country. The ceremony was held indoors because of the inclement weather.
Ray Smith stands to honor fallen veterans while Lani Spahr plays the bagpipes during the Memorial Day ceremony at Post 17.
John Guenther, Post 17 vice commander, plays taps during the solemn remembrance.
Dave Shook, Post 17 chaplain, right, introduces U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers to deliver the keynote address.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers served 15 years, mostly in maritime interdictions, which are mainly anti-drug missions. He begins a new position at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., next week.
Doug Spelman, Post 17 past commander, salutes during the ceremony.
Members of the Cape Henlopen High School JROTC post the colors at the start of the ceremony.
Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander, delivers remarks.
Four of the speakers at the Memorial Day ceremony include (l-r) Terra Dillon, Auxiliary Unit 17 president,; Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers, U.S. Coast Guard; Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander; and Tom Francisco, Sons of the American Legion commander.
Ray Smith, 83, who served as a U.S. Army medic in the Vietnam War, shows a photo of him and entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee in Siagon in 1968. Smith said he treated her after she became sick during a visit with troops.
Lily Armstrong handed out poppies and programs outside the Post 17 ceremony.
Adria Windish, Miss Lewes, left, and Erin Mayor, Miss Coastal Delaware Teen, are on hand for the ceremony.
Louis Geibel salutes during the Memorial Day ceremony at American Legion Post 17 in Lewes. The 89-year-old said he served in the Army National Guard during the Vietnam War. The ceremony honored veterans from all wars and branches of the service. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander, left, and U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers lay a wreath in memory of those who gave their lives for their country. The ceremony was held indoors because of the inclement weather.
Ray Smith stands to honor fallen veterans while Lani Spahr plays the bagpipes during the Memorial Day ceremony at Post 17.
John Guenther, Post 17 vice commander, plays taps during the solemn remembrance.
Dave Shook, Post 17 chaplain, right, introduces U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers to deliver the keynote address.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers served 15 years, mostly in maritime interdictions, which are mainly anti-drug missions. He begins a new position at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., next week.
Doug Spelman, Post 17 past commander, salutes during the ceremony.
Members of the Cape Henlopen High School JROTC post the colors at the start of the ceremony.
Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander, delivers remarks.
Four of the speakers at the Memorial Day ceremony include (l-r) Terra Dillon, Auxiliary Unit 17 president,; Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers, U.S. Coast Guard; Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander; and Tom Francisco, Sons of the American Legion commander.
Ray Smith, 83, who served as a U.S. Army medic in the Vietnam War, shows a photo of him and entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee in Siagon in 1968. Smith said he treated her after she became sick during a visit with troops.
Lily Armstrong handed out poppies and programs outside the Post 17 ceremony.
Adria Windish, Miss Lewes, left, and Erin Mayor, Miss Coastal Delaware Teen, are on hand for the ceremony.American Legion Post 17 in Lewes honored America's fallen veterans with its annual Memorial Day ceremony.
The event was held indoors because of the threat of inclement weather. The annual parade was called off earlier in the day.
This year's keynote speaker was U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers, a member of Post 17.
Rogers spent 15 years serving on maritime interdiction missions. He will soon begin working in acquisitions at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C.
He said only those who have served truly understand what the armed services do.
"The circumstances change, the uniforms evolve, but the patriotic spirit remains constant," Rogers said. "Only people in this room can truly understand that weight of that thread that runs from Valley Force to the Arabian Gulf. Only we can feel, only we know the cost, only we know what was carried and what was left behind and lost along the way."
Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander, said it especially important to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day, as we celebrate the nation's 250th birthday.
"Americans from communities just like ours have answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice to honor the legacy of the fallen," he said. "We shall commit to the freedom offered by the greatest nation on earth, a land where patriotism eclipses politics, where the American flag is displayed proudly and where military veterans are society's true celebrities."
The ceremony concluded with Barrow and Rogers laying wreath at the front of the room to pay tribute to fallen men and women of all the armed services.
Louis Geibel salutes during the Memorial Day ceremony at American Legion Post 17 in Lewes. The 89-year-old said he served in the Army National Guard during the Vietnam War. The ceremony honored veterans from all wars and branches of the service. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander, left, and U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers lay a wreath in memory of those who gave their lives for their country. The ceremony was held indoors because of the inclement weather.
Ray Smith stands to honor fallen veterans while Lani Spahr plays the bagpipes during the Memorial Day ceremony at Post 17.
John Guenther, Post 17 vice commander, plays taps during the solemn remembrance.
Dave Shook, Post 17 chaplain, right, introduces U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers to deliver the keynote address.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers served 15 years, mostly in maritime interdictions, which are mainly anti-drug missions. He begins a new position at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., next week.
Doug Spelman, Post 17 past commander, salutes during the ceremony.
Members of the Cape Henlopen High School JROTC post the colors at the start of the ceremony.
Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander, delivers remarks.
Four of the speakers at the Memorial Day ceremony include (l-r) Terra Dillon, Auxiliary Unit 17 president,; Lt. Cmdr. Nick Rogers, U.S. Coast Guard; Steve Barrow, Post 17 commander; and Tom Francisco, Sons of the American Legion commander.
Ray Smith, 83, who served as a U.S. Army medic in the Vietnam War, shows a photo of him and entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee in Siagon in 1968. Smith said he treated her after she became sick during a visit with troops.
Lily Armstrong handed out poppies and programs outside the Post 17 ceremony.
Adria Windish, Miss Lewes, left, and Erin Mayor, Miss Coastal Delaware Teen, are on hand for the ceremony.



