VIDEO

Hatchet is buried during Return Day

Unique tradition dates back to the late 1790s

Sussex County party leaders bury the ceremonial hatchet in Lewes Beach sand. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

November 17, 2016

Georgetown Town Crier Kirk Lawson reads election results from the Sussex County Courthouse. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Sussex County party leaders gather to bury the hatchet to end the 2016 campaign. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Rosalie Walls, who served as president of the Return Day Committee for 26 years, is the 2016 parade grand marshal. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Democrat House Speaker 14th District Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf smiles and waves to the crowd. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

As other mayors and spectators look on, Ocean View Mayor Walt Curan throws the winning hatchet toss. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

District 3 Sussex County Councilman-Elect I.G. Burton and his wife, Jullie, wave to the crowd. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Republican Rep. Steve Smyk, who recaptured his 20th District seat, recognizes a face in the large Return Day parade crowd. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Republican 37th District Rep. Ruth Briggs King has won another two-year seat. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Newly elected Democrats, Bethany Hall-Long, lieutenant governor, left, and Lisa Blunt Rochester, U.S. Congress, share the Return Day stage. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Former Delaware congressman and governor Mike Castle, left, walks along the parade route with Sen. Tom Carper. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Democrat Governor-Elect John Carney gives a thumbs up to the large Return Day crowd. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Sussex Dance Academy dancers perform on The Circle to the song “Rise Up.” RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Ballerina Meoghan Swain, a member of Sussex Dance Academy, dances a solo selection. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Cheyenne Wright of the Nanticoke tribe demonstrates her dance skills. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Carla Walls, granddaughter of former Return Day Committee President Rosalie Walls, is the event’s ambassador. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Delaware Treasurer Ken Simpler rides in a fancy carriage. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

The Delaware State College Approaching Storm Band marches around The Circle. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Herman Jackson, left, and Mike Harmon of the Nanticoke tribe dance a traditional men’s dance on the Return Day stage. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Members of the Nanticoke tribe gather Return Day attendees to join them in dance on The Circle. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

President-Elect Donald Trump committee members hand out signs along the parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Megan Sterling of Millsboro lets her political persuasion known as she waits for the parade to start. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Jim Bowden, vice president of the Return Day Committee, has antique handcuffs ready for people who call the event “Returns Day.” RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Red, white and blue are the colors of the day on The Circle during Return Day. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Sussex County Sheriff Bob Lee rides in a miniature stagecoach, one of the most unique vehicles in the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Students carry a large U.S. flag amid cheers from a large crowd around The Circle. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

The Cape Henlopen High School Band performs for the judges during the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Republican 41st District Rep. Rich Collins, left, and challenger Brad Connor ride together in a carriage. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Grace Otley, Delaware’s Distinguished Young Woman, delights the crowd with her rendition of “Wagon Wheel.” RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Jenna Anger, a dancer with Sussex Dance Academy, performs a tap routine on The Circle. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

With the Sussex County Courthouse in the background, Sussex Dance Academy dancers perform. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Sussex Dance Academy dancers add style and grace to the festivities. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Sussex County party leaders bury the ceremonial hatchet in Lewes Beach sand. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

One of the long-standing Return Day traditions is the ox roast on The Circle. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

The Sweet 16 Delaware State University troupe uses flags in their performance. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Sussex County Sheriff Bob Lee is dressed the part of a western lawman. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Miss Delaware Amanda Debus, who lives in Middletown and is a senior at the University of Delaware, is enjoying the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Bebee Healthcare celebrates its 100th anniversary with a huge float. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Little Miss Apple Scrapple Juliette Anger of Bridgeville, left, and Leah Marvel of Ellendale recite The Pledge of Allegiance. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

David Nardone of Bear is dressed in a 1st Delaware Regiment colonial uniform. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Nanticoke Chief Natasha Norwood Carmine, left, stands with dancers Boe Harris and Cheyenne Wright. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Nanticoke Mike Harmon takes the stage as he prepares to dance. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

This is the first Return Day Debbie Jones has served as president of the committee. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

The Sussex Technical High School Band Ravens Nation is always a crowd favorite. The band is preparing to perform at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Members of Coastal Martial Arts show off their skills. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

State Rep. David Wilson, R-Lincoln, waves the flag as he rides in the parade. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO

State Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, is all smiles in the Return Day parade. MADDY LAURIA PHOTO

The Sussex County chairpeople bury the hatchet in sand that’s been brought from Lewes, because that was the first county seat, said Rosalie Walls, former Queen of Return Day. “That’s supposed to get rid of all the bad things they’ve said about each other. Whether it happens or not, I’m not sure.”

Watch the rest of her interview on our Behind The Scenes: Return Day video.