Wreaths Across America event held in Rehoboth Beach

Volunteers, scouts join to honor fallen veterans during ceremony at Epworth Cemetery

Hugh Jack, one of the many Troop 1 Boy Scouts volunteers, lays a wreath at the gravesite of a veteran during the inaugural Dec. 18 Wreaths Across America ceremony at Epworth Cemetery in Rehoboth Beach. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS

Ron MacArthur

December 22, 2021

Rehoboth Beach Main Street spearheaded the inaugural Wreaths Across America event Dec. 18 in Rehoboth Beach to honor fallen veterans and those who are still serving. Community volunteers along with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts joined in to place more than 140 wreaths on veterans’ graves in Epworth Cemetery on Henlopen Avenue. Following a ceremony to pay tribute to veterans in every branch of the service, more than 100 volunteers placed memorial wreaths throughout the cemetery.

Sponsors and partners included Community Bank, Highway One Companies, Dewey Beach Lions Club, Epworth United Methodist Church, Rehoboth Beach Homeowners’ Association, VFW Post 7447, American Legion Post 5 and Cape Henlopen High School JROTC.

On National Wreaths Across America Day, more than 2.4 million wreaths were placed in more than 3,100 cemeteries across the nation, including 250,000 at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. The event takes place each December to remember fallen veterans, honor those who serve and teach children the value of freedom.

The Cape Henlopen High School JROTC Color Guard presents the colors.

Kimberlee Kelly of Rehoboth Beach is one of nearly 100 volunteers who placed wreaths on the graves of veterans buried in Epworth Cemetery.

Members of the Cape Henlopen High School JROTC carry the colors outside the cemetery in front of the wreaths placed in honor of veterans from every branch of the service.

More than 145 wreaths were placed at veterans’ graves in Rehoboth Beach as part of the millions placed across the nation during National Wreaths Across America Day.

Abby Whitcomb sings a moving rendition of the national anthem to start the ceremony.

Veteran Greg Gause of VFW Post 7447 offers the invocation.

Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, left, and House Speaker Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, both offered remarks, along with Rehoboth Mayor Stan Mills, on the importance of the event.