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CHEER Center hosts Military Honor Day

Honoring Tuskegee Airman Brig. Gen. Charles Edward McGee are in back (l-r) Greg Fuller, Fred Armstrong, William Franklin, James Lewis, Brig. Gen. Ernest G. Talbert, Richelle Talbert, Dr. Wilma Mishoe, Don Blakey and Walt Koopman. In front are Dee Blake, Joanne Coons, John Dumas, Peggy Swygert and Delores Blakey. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
September 16, 2022

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Military Honor Day was held Sept. 10 at the CHEER Center on Sand Hill Road in Georgetown. The event featured dozens of educational displays highlighting historic military events.

The event honored Tuskegee Airman Brig. Gen. Charles Edward McGee, who flew 409 combat missions in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Each military branch was represented by displays and memorabilia. A 9/11 remembrance display was also presented to the nearly 100 people in attendance. 

Retired Army Sgt. Maj. Walt Koopman owns most of the displays representing the military and has been presenting Military Honor Day for 15 years to ensure people of all ages remember the sacrifices made by the military.

 

Admiring the Marines display is Edith Poore of Georgetown.
Capt. Tom Terrell of Lewes holds the M1 he used when he served in the Marines from 1949-79.
Honoring Private First Class Frank Emmi are his family (l-r) James Emmi, Robert Oliver, John Emmi and Frank Emmi Jr.
The Vietnam display is staffed by John Paulding (1968-69), left, and Tom Wiker (1967-69).
Marine memorabilia was guarded by this uniformed mannequin.
Ed Simpson, U.S. Navy retired, manned the Navy booth with a replica submarine.
CHEER CEO Ken Bock speaks to the attendees at Military Honor Day.
Marines memorabilia on display.
Rep. Dave Wilson, R-Lincoln, says “hats off to the veterans.”
Walt Koopman displays a picture of himself from when he served in the Korean War. After serving, Koopman was the shooting instructor for Elvis Presley.
State Sen. Dave Wilson, R-Lincoln, presents a proclamation with the help of former Rep. Don Blakey.
Walt Koopman, right, has a light moment with Bri. Gen. Ernest Talbert.
A freedom flag contains all of the victims of the attack on 9/11.
Delaware 37th District Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, presents a proclamation for the event.
Receiving the Senate proclamation are (l-r) Brig. Gen. Ernest Talbert; Peggy Swygert of the Tuskegee Airman Porter Group; Walt Koopman; John Dumas of the Tuskegee Airman; Joanne Coons, treasurer of the Porter Group; Dr. Don Blakey, president of the Porter Group; Sen. Dave Wilson, R-Lincoln; and Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown.
Brig. Gen. Charles Edward McGee of the Tuskegee Airman was honored at the event.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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