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Wreaths Across America event in Rehoboth continues to grow

More than 100 tributes placed at Epworth Cemetery during fifth annual event
Rehoboth Beach Main Street hosted the fifth annual Wreaths Across America event Dec. 13 at Epworth Cemetery in Rehoboth Beach. Donna Smith helps make sure all the veterans’ gravesites in the cemetery get a wreath. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
December 21, 2025

Story Location:
Epworth Methodist Cemetery
187 Henlopen Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

Rehoboth Beach Main Street hosted the fifth annual Wreaths Across America ceremony Dec. 13 at Epworth Cemetery in Rehoboth Beach. More than 100 veterans, family members and supporters of veterans attended the event.

In advance of wreaths being placed at grave sites, representatives from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and POW-MIA placed ceremonial wreaths in honor of the men and women who have served. When wreaths were placed, participants were encouraged to say the name of the veteran out loud, and then take a moment to remember their service.

The Rehoboth Beach event was one of thousands that took place on National Wreaths Across America Day. According to the Wreaths Across America organization, there were 5,598 participating locations nationwide, and there were more than 3.1 million wreaths. At Arlington National Cemetery, more than 27,000 volunteers helped place 265,000 wreaths.

Following the ceremony, Rehoboth Beach Main Street hosted a lunch in the second-floor meeting room of Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company Station 1 on Rehoboth Avenue.

For more information on Wreaths Across America, go to wreathsacrossamerica.org.

More than 100 wreaths were placed during the ceremony.
Wreaths lay waiting to be placed at graves all over the cemetery.
The Cape Henlopen High School JROTC presented the colors at the beginning of the ceremony. Pictured are (l-r) Wesley Sartain, Cianna Steer, Crystal Salinas and Layla Parks.
Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, thanks everyone for braving the cold temperatures to attend the event.
Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth, said it was important to remember the sacrifices of veterans and their families.
Amelia Bickel ends the ceremony by playing taps.
Dan Kamen, a Navy submariner, stands at attention during the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Betsy Baumeister lays a wreath at one of dozens of gravesites around the cemetery.
Rehoboth Beach Police Department Sgt. Dana Wyant placed a ceremonial service wreath in honor of the POW/MIA veterans.
Abby Whitcomb sings “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Service wreaths are placed for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and POW/MIAs.
The Rev. Dr. Vicki Gordy-Stith leads the invocation.
Rehoboth Beach Mayor Stan MIlls said it was important to remember veterans this time of year.
Well over 100 people attended the event on a cool day in December.

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Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

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