LEWES, Del.-- About 500 flags were placed between Cape Henlopen's District Office and the Cape Henlopen High School campus in honor of Veteran's Day in Lewes.
The annual fundraising event, which normally takes place on Memorial Day, got moved this year to be celebrated on Veteran's Day. Many locals, including Mayor Ted Becker and County Councilman Mark Schaeffer showed up at the event known as 'Flags for Heroes.'
Each flag has a medallion on it to honor a veteran, a police officer or even a healthcare worker in the area-- as a 'thank you' to all the heroes, both past and present, who have made a difference in the community.
Keynote Speaker, Retired Chief Master Sgt. Michael Bellerose served 28 years in the Air Force. He said Veteran's Day is a symbol of unity.
"It's just a feeling of family," he said. "The military is just one huge family and whenever we see one another, it's almost like you're walking up to a long, lost relative. So Veteran's Day is about bringing the family together for one day, just to thank one another for their service."
The fundraiser is held by the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club, which has been underway for the past two weeks.
The Rotary's previous president Chuck Ward said he was drafted at the height of the Vietnam War, serving almost three years in the U.S. Army as an intelligence agent. Now-a-days, he's constantly giving back.
"We raise a lot of money in a small community for all those people in need and that's, what this is all about," he said.
Each flag is sponsored, and locals are able to purchase medallions, later placed on the flags to honor their heroes. The proceeds then go to multiple local charities, including those that support veterans.
They've raised more than $50,000 this year.
"If everybody can go in their community and just do an act of kindness for somebody, just in honor of our veterans, it would help make our communities even stronger," Bellerose said.
Once the flags come down, the medallion on it is sent to its donor so that they can keep it as a collectible's item.
