Just in time for Independence Day, the Newark Rotary Club installed 50 flags at the entrance to Christiana Hospital to show appreciation for health care workers.

“ChristianaCare workers have stepped up through the pandemic to support our community,” Rotarian Lisa Groom said. “This is our small way to thank them.”

The display is part of the Flags for Heroes program, conducted by Rotary chapters nationwide. The Newark club usually installs flags in front of city hall for Memorial Day, but did not do so this year because the city’s Memorial Day parade was canceled due to the pandemic.

Earlier this month, the club delivered meals to the hospital and pitched the idea of the flag display.

“We have a supply of flags, and we said we’d love to put them up to honor our hometown heroes,” Groom said.

On Saturday morning, 13 Rotarians spent a few hours installing 50 flags at the Churchman’s Road entrance to the hospital. The flags will stay up for two weeks.

Groom said she hopes people driving by get a sense of patriotism as well as appreciation for doctors, nurses and other hospital workers.

“I hope they recognize the enormous effort and dedication,” she said. “It seems like the country is so divided. Maybe this is a way to recognize that when we work together, we can accomplish good things.”

Rotary club president Nathan Millman noted that even though the coronavirus pandemic has somewhat subsided in Delaware, health care workers are still combatting the virus and abiding by strict guidelines to keep their families safe.

“Let’s make them feel appreciated for what they’re doing,” Millman said.

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