More than 800 Jeeps of all sizes and shapes piled into the Dover (DE) Downs International Speedway parking lot Saturday, May 18 for the Third Annual Jeepers Back the Blue event. Designed as a celebration of law enforcement officers, Back the Blue uses all its proceeds to provide financial assistance to families of fallen officers, as well as scholarships for children of law enforcement officers. This year's event drew many local businesses and several Jeep industry vendors, and raised about $74,000. Additionally, the first 500 Jeeps registered for Back the Blue were able to ride three laps of the 'Monster Mile'—Dover Speedway's famous track. Many law enforcement agencies attended and held demonstrations, while there was also an honor guard ceremony and performance from the Delaware State Police Pipes and Drums.
"(The event) wasn’t about 700+ Jeeps, it wasn’t about driving around a NASCAR track, it wasn’t about awesome bands, tons of vendors or cool raffle prizes—it was about honoring those men and women in blue who put their lives on the line every single day," said Back the Blue organizer Jeff Lehnert. "I am proudly an LEO of over 21 years and I will continue to do everything I can to honor those who have given until they can’t give any more."
