American Legion Post 17 observes Memorial Day in Lewes

Every Memorial Day weekend, it is each American’s patriotic duty to honor the sacrifices of all the men and women who have gone to fight for this great nation and didn’t return home.

Usually, the American Legion Post 17 family is quite active in getting that message out by distributing poppies at stations all over town on Saturdays in May, and hosting a veterans parade and Memorial Day service at the post. As pandemic social standards are slowly being lifted, the same honor and respect can be shown, but in more safe and creative ways.

The poem, “In Flanders Fields,” describes bright-red poppies emerging from a wartime battlefield, and encourages the living to take up the torch for those who served and died for country. The poppy flower came to symbolize the blood shed during combat. Connecting the visual image of the poppy with the sacrifice of service made by veterans has been an important goal of the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Program since its inception in 1921. Throughout this area in May, hundreds of handmade red crepe paper poppies are being distributed in exchange for donations that go directly to assist local veterans and military members serving overseas.

Since there will be no parade in Lewes this Memorial Day, the American Legion Post 17 Family will recognize and honor area veterans by creating two poppy cemeteries in town, one at Post 17 on American Legion Road, and the other at the City of Lewes Gateway Garden where Freeman Highway branches off Kings Highway toward the ferry and state park.

Friends, families and visitors are welcome to stop by Post 17 in Lewes, and write the name of a soldier lost in service on a memorial tag outside the post by the front fence. Include the soldier’s name, branch and years of service, and date of death as best remembered, and place it near one of the poppies in the yard. It is hoped that these cemeteries will create visual reminders of what Memorial Day weekend is all about. They will be adorned by U.S. flags, red poppies and white crosses.

Community members are reminded to get and wear red poppies from American Legion Auxiliary members who will be distributing them Saturday, May 29, at Midway Dollar Tree, Ace Hardware locations in Lewes and Milton, at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market and along Second Street. Proudly wearing a poppy shows the entire community the wearer supports veterans and those still in military service.

Organizers hope this simple tribute will allow the community to pause for a moment, bow their heads and, with veterans in mind, say with gratitude and pride, “Thank you for your service.”