Rotary Club Honors Veterans With Flags at Reservoir
Several hundred flags were displayed at the Newark Reservoir during the club's annual Flags for Heroes ceremony.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Newark Morning Rotary Club honored veterans and community heroes Sunday at the Newark Reservoir with several hundred American flags. The annual Flags for Heroes program raised money for veteran charities and a new nursing scholarship.
Why it matters
The event recognized veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and school nurses from the Christina School District while funding local charitable efforts. Proceeds from flag sponsorships will support veteran-benefiting charities and the new Evelyn R. Hayes Memorial Scholarship in Nursing.
Several hundred American flags were displayed at the ceremony, each dedicated by a community member or business to a hero. Hayes, honored with the new scholarship, served 23 years in the U.S. Army Reserve Nurse Corps, and the total fundraising amount has not been disclosed.
The players
Newark Morning Rotary Club
A local service club whose members organize the annual Flags for Heroes program to honor veterans and community members.
Dan Bates
A retired Navy captain and teacher at the Delaware Military Academy who delivered the keynote address.
Evelyn R. Hayes
A longtime Newark Morning Rotary Club member and former chair of the University of Delaware nursing program, for whom the new scholarship is named.
The details
Members of the Newark Morning Rotary Club gathered at the Newark Reservoir, where each flag was attached with a tag honoring the person or group it was dedicated to. Retired Navy captain Dan Bates, who teaches at the Delaware Military Academy, served as keynote speaker at the event.
Timeline
Earlier this year: longtime Rotary member Evelyn R. Hayes died.
Sunday, November 8, 2026: the Flags for Heroes ceremony was held at the Newark Reservoir.
Giving Back
This year's Flags for Heroes ceremony follows the club's annual pattern of using flag sponsorships to honor local service members. It extends that tradition by directing proceeds toward a new scholarship in memory of a longtime member.
Residents can see the ceremony's recognition of local nurses, first responders, and veterans reflected in the new scholarship. Flag sponsorship and community participation directly support veteran charities and nursing education in the Newark area.
The takeaway
Community members can participate in future Flags for Heroes sponsorships to dedicate a flag to a loved one and help fund veteran charities and nursing education. The ceremony shows how local giving can recognize both service members and everyday heroes.
Further reading
Explore more Newark philanthropy stories and community giving efforts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newark Post.
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