A circle of light on a cold December evening spoke volumes about Sussex County.
Hundreds of people gathered on The Circle in Georgetown Dec. 28, to honor Delaware State Police Cpl. Matthew T. “Ty” Snook, a 10-year veteran who was killed in the line of duty just days before Christmas. He was not from this part of Delaware, yet Georgetown showed up anyway because, as the many speakers said, service, sacrifice and loss know no county lines.
Cpl. Snook, just 34 years old, was remembered as a hero who acted with selfless devotion to protect others. Law enforcement officers accept a responsibility that most of us never will: to step toward danger so others can remain safe. So when an officer falls, it is a loss felt far beyond a single department or a single county.
Gov. Matt Meyer reminded those at the vigil that freedoms are safeguarded daily by those who choose to serve, who raise their hands and say, “Send me.” That choice deserves more than passing thanks; it deserves sustained respect and appreciation.
Georgetown understands this better than most. The town carries its own scars, having lost Officer Chad Spicer in 2009 and Chief Harvey Gregg in 1998. Those losses forged an unspoken promise, as Sen. Brian Pettyjohn noted: When tragedy strikes anywhere in Delaware, Georgetown will show up. The vigil for Cpl. Snook was the fulfillment of that promise.
Ruth Ann Spicer, Chad’s mother, reminded those in The Circle that just as officers protect and serve, so too does the community. That spirit was visible in every candle lit and in the commitment to restore the Chad Spicer memorial, which was recently damaged.
Cpl. Snook leaves behind a wife and a 1-year-old daughter. While no gesture can ease that loss, community support – from the vigil to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s pledge to pay off his mortgage – reflects a state united in gratitude.
In honoring Cpl. Snook, Georgetown honored all who serve and have served, and ensured that those lost in the line of duty are remembered forever.
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Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporter Chris Flood.
