On December 14, 2019 more than 2100 locations in all 50 states and overseas conducted the Wreaths Across America (WAA) Ceremony. The mission of WAA is to Remember, Honor and Teach.  Dinwiddie’s Poplar Grove National Cemetery was one such location. At 12:00 pm the ceremony began with an opening prayer and the National Anthem, sung beautifully by members of the Dinwiddie HS Choir. A representative from the Petersburg National Battlefield, Tracy Chernault, welcomed all the participants to the 3rd annual event at Poplar Grove National Cemetery.  CSM (Ret) Terry Parham Sr. spoke on honoring those that have served after which CW3 (Ret) Dawn Cater explained the background of WAA and recited a poem entitled “We Remember Them”. Each cemetery is provided through the program seven ceremonial wreaths in honor of Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and POW/MIA personnel. Representatives of each branch, escorted by members of the Girl Scouts of America, Troops 746, 305 and 349, laid the ceremonial wreaths, rendering a slow salute in honor of those that served.  To close out the ceremony, as in the past two years, SFC (RET) Bob Weaver played “TAPS”. It was, as always, a heart-warming rendition. After the closing prayer, volunteers and participants laid 1,350 wreaths on graves in a designated section of the cemetery. As each volunteer layed a wreath they stated the name on the grave as a way to ensure they are never forgotten. There are approximately 6000 service members buried at Poplar Grove National Cemetery. Special thanks to the Dinwiddie WAA Committee(Christie Reiter, Billy Tomlin and Dawn Cater), DHS Social Studies Club, DHS JROTC, DHS Choir, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Chapter 27-3, the Cross Bearers Motorcycle Ministry and the Park Rangers of Petersburg National Battlefield for working to make this event a success.  Next year’s event is scheduled for December 19, 2020.

DCPS employees supporting Wreaths Across America: MAJ (Ret) Robinson, SFC(Ret) Bob Weaver, Christie Reiter, CW3(Ret) Dawn Cater, Sheri Athey, MSgt (Ret) Carey Athey, Kimberly Boozer and Caitlyn Raikes