Historical marker celebrating Rehoboth Beach Patrol to be installed August 5

July 23, 2025

The City of Rehoboth Beach will unveil a new historical marker – this one denoting the Rehoboth Beach Patrol’s long history – during a ceremony at 9 am Tuesday, August 5, on Baltimore Avenue in front of the new beach patrol building. The brief ceremony is open to the public.

“We are honored to receive this state historical designation for the Rehoboth Beach Patrol,” says Mayor Stan Mills. “It signifies the dedication, hard work, and compassion that the patrol has brought to our beaches for more than a century. It’s a legacy today’s beach patrol continues to uphold.”

The marker will read: “The Rehoboth Beach Patrol (RBP), founded in 1921 by Benjamin F. Shaw and the American Red Cross, has overseen the safeguard of the 2-mile area of beach within the corporate city limits of Rehoboth. The RBP has performed a multitude of actions including medical aid, rescues, beach evacuations, and returning lost children. In 1977, the RBP Lifeguard Olympics began, with lifeguards from Delaware and surrounding states competing in swimming, running, and rescue events. The Junior Lifeguard Program, since 1997, has introduced children to water safety, first aid, and surf techniques to promote ocean-safety awareness and lifeguard skills.”