Remember, Honor, Teach
Caroline Hoffman
The month of December was an exciting and busy one. During the holiday break, Wakefield students Charlie McKee ('20) and Kevin Dwelly ('20) joined Wreaths Across America and the Patriot Guard Riders in honoring our military members and our fallen military heroes at Ball's Bluff National Cemetery in Leesburg, Virginia.
Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over 1,200 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad. The national theme for 2017 was I'm an American. Yes I Am.
In a powerful and inspirational ceremony, volunteers placed wreaths at all gravestones and also presented special wreaths to honor the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and all POW/MIA's. All volunteers present were given the chance to speak about who they were there honoring that day in a moving "Circle of Honor" tribute. Both Charlie and Kevin gave tributes, mentioning their family members who served and currently serve our country, including Wakefield's very own retired Lt. Gen. John Fairfield. This was also a "full circle" moment for Kevin Dwelly, who as a seventh grader, was awarded the James Payton Atkins Memorial Scholarship at Wakefield, an award that recognized students who have written research papers on the Civil War. Kevin's winning research paper was about the Battle of Ball's Bluff, the first Civil War battle in Loudoun County. And now, Kevin had the opportunity to place a wreath on the grave of one of the fallen soldiers of this battle.