One Minute on Memorial Day

May 23, 2026

This weekend is not about hot dogs and cookouts.   As the name implies,  it’s about remembering our fallen heroes who served with dignity to protect our freedoms we so abundantly enjoy. From our early freedom fighters to our present day heroes, we say thank you for your sacrifice to this great country of ours. As we gather together this weekend, please say a prayer of thanks, and another prayer to keep our fighting forces safe from all harm.

Thank you.  

Tom Molnar, Chairman, Sussex County Republican Committee

One Minute on Memorial Day

On Dec. 28, 2000, Congress issued the National Moment of Remembrance Act. Under “Findings” in that document is the following:

“Congress finds that greater strides must be made to demonstrate appreciation for those loyal people of the United States whose values, represented by their sacrifices, are critical to the future of the United States” and “the relevance of Memorial Day must be made more apparent to present and future generations of people of the United States through local and national observances and ongoing activities.”

Consequently, the Remembrance Act asks Americans to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day and reflect in silence for one minute on those members of the armed services who gave their lives for their country in wartime.

Set your alarm for Monday, May 25 at 3:00 pm.

Memorial Day Grave Traditions: Coins, Flags, and Graveside Tributes

Visiting a veteran's grave on Memorial Day is one of the most personal ways to honor their service. If you have walked through a national cemetery or veterans section on this holiday, you have likely noticed small American flags planted beside headstones and coins placed carefully on top of military grave markers.

The tradition of coins left on military graves gained wide recognition during the Vietnam War. Leaving a coin became a way to show respect without initiating a potentially difficult conversation with the family during a politically divisive era.

Each denomination carries a specific message to the soldier's loved ones:

A penny means someone visited the grave to pay their respects. A nickel signals that the visitor and the deceased trained together at boot camp. A dime indicates they served together in some capacity. A quarter — the most significant tribute — tells the family that the visitor was present when the service member died.

Coins collected from headstones at national and state cemeteries are typically used for cemetery maintenance or to help cover burial costs for veterans in need. If you visit a veteran's grave this Memorial Day, bringing a few coins is a simple, meaningful gesture rooted in decades of military grave traditions and tributes.

The Half-Staff Rule: What Makes Memorial Day Different

Memorial Day is the only federal holiday where the American flag follows a split protocol. The U.S. Flag Code, specifically Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 7(m), lays out the rule clearly: on Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half-staff from sunrise until noon, then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day until sunset.

That midday shift carries deep symbolic meaning. The morning hours at half-staff represent a period of national mourning — a collective recognition of every service member who gave their life for the country. At noon, raising the flag briskly to full-staff symbolizes the nation's resolve to carry on and honor their sacrifice through continued strength.

Sussex County Memorial Day Celebration

Sunday, May 24

Starting at 1:30 PM

The Circle in Georgetown

The traditional Sussex County Memorial Day Service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, May 24, on The Circle in Georgetown, sponsored by the Georgetown Kiwanis Club and the Korean War Veterans Association.

The keynote speech, “Community Service,” will be delivered by retired Lt. Col. John Fisher, U.S. Army. A Seaford native and University of Delaware graduate, Fisher served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Mali. In addition to being a pilot, he served as commandant of the Delaware OCS Academy. 

Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, will serve as master of ceremonies. 

The invocation and benediction will be offered by Archdeacon Peter Cornell of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown.

Robin Airey, chaplain for American Legion Auxiliary Unit 28 in Millsboro, will expound on the 22-A-Day memorial now being installed on its premises.

Cathy Gorman of Georgetown will sing the national anthem and “America the Beautiful.” The audience is invited to sing along.

Memorial wreaths will be placed by local veterans’ groups and service organizations in tribute to those who died in World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and more recent conflicts to protect Americans’ freedoms. Boy Scouts of America Troop 95 members will assist.

The rifle salute will be executed by members of the 198th Signal Battalion, Delaware National Guard, stationed at the Georgetown Armory.

Taps and its echo will be performed by Sussex Central High School student Aijenia Denisse Mata and SCHS Music Director Ben Ables.

The program is scheduled to last about 50 minutes. Some seating is provided on The Circle. Attendees are also encouraged to bring comfortable folding chairs.