The symbolic end to the 2024 campaign. Shown are (l-r) Drew Sunderlin, Sussex County Republican Party chair; Timothy Strong, representing Delaware’s Libertarian Party; and Jane Hovington, Sussex County Democratic Party chair. The trio buries the hatchet in sand from Lewes Beach. Hunter Landon, the master of ceremonies, looks on. BILL SHULL PHOTOS Kirk Lawson, left, reads the official election results as Sussex County Sheriff Robert Lee looks on. Kirk Lawson through the columns of the Sussex County courthouse. Twins Kaisen and Declan Waples, 5, of Millsboro could not wait to meet Georgetown police officer Dylan Dowling, because he was riding a bike to patrol the parade route. Jessica Pizzaia, left, and Bristol Pizzaia were patriotic for Return Day 2024. Barbara Holston, left, and Sharon Pitcher said they have been coming to Return Day for 50 years. They had a prime position on the Circle to watch the parade. Georgetown Mayor Bill West welcomes everyone to Return Day 2024. Gov. John Carney acknowledges the crowd. It was Carney’s last Return Day as governor. But he said he will be back in his new role, mayor of Wilmington. Governor-elect Matt Meyer took pictures and took in the sights and sounds of Return Day. Sussex County Sheriff Robert Lee delivers the hatchet to the grandstand. Sen. Tom Carper waves to the crowd during the Return Day parade. Carper is retiring after decades of service to Delaware. Jane Gruenebaum gives a thumbs up. She defeated incumbent Mark Schaeffer in Sussex County Council District 3. Sarah McBride, Delaware’s newly elected member of Congress, waves to the Return Day crowd. Delaware State Police and Georgetown Police kicked off the parade on West Market Street. The top floor of the old Brick Hotel has been a popular parade-viewing location for generations. Paul Franzoni spent hours preparing the ox roast for the popular sandwiches. This family was already looking ahead to the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. That is also when the next Return Day celebration will be held. Parker Mumford, 5, left, and Leah Marvel, 13, led the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of Return Day. Lisa Rohlfing and Stella Hickman greet people at the Return Day breakfast at Georgetown Middle School. Alan Kujala, Sussex County Return Day treasurer, left, and Jim Bowden dressed in period costumes to celebrate the bi-annual tradition. Food trucks on North Bedford Street were busy all day. Savannah Howard, Little Miss Sussex County, waves to the crowd in the Return Day parade. A Ford police cruiser was among the many classic cars in the Return Day parade. The Indian River High School marching band performs in front of the stage on the Circle. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall Long, left, is joined Sen.-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester, center, and Rep.-elect Sarah McBride on the stage. World War II veteran Kendal Jones rides in the parade. Gov.-elect Matt Meyer acknowledges the crowd. A fire truck from Ellendale makes its way around the Circle. Nova Gaffney, Miss Delaware 2024, waves to the crowd. The Sussex Tech marching band. This year’s parade grand marshal was Joe Thomas, the recently retired director of the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center. Sen. Dave Wilson, R-Lincoln, gives a big thumbs up to parade spectators. A young firefighter waves from one of the Georgetown fire trucks in the parade. Delaware State Police arrived on horseback at the start of the parade. Jim Weller, left, and Colin Walls from Fine Day Radio were the announcers for the parade. The Sussex Central High School band. The Sussex County Courthouse reflects in a tuba that’s part of the Sussex Central High School band. Kim Hoey Stevenson and Sen. Russ Huxtable ride together. Huxtable defeated Hoey Stevenson in the Sixth Senatorial District race. Sen. Chris Coons waves to the crowd. Nikki Miller, left, rides with Rep. Stell Parker Selby, who won re-election in the 20th Representative District. The Sussex Central Senior High School JROTC walks in the parade. They all survived the mayor’s hatchet toss at the old courthouse. Shown are Bethany Beach Mayor Ron Calef, Georgetown Mayor Bill West, Millsboro Mayor Kimberly Kaan, Millville Mayor Ron Belinko, Milford Mayor Todd Culotta and Seaford Mayor Matt MacCoy. Georgetown Mayor Bill West lines up his next throw at the mayor’s hatchet toss outside the old courthouse. The Sussex Central Golden Knights JROTC presents the colors during the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner.”