2024 Key Exchange Ceremony: Wreaths Across America

Each December, a fellow non-profit organization, Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and at more than 1,600 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.

On Wednesday, December 12th at 8:00 a.m. the Virginia War Memorial is proud to host an official Wreaths Across America Key Exchange Ceremony. This ceremony highlights the exchanging of the key to the 18-wheeler that is full of wreaths to be placed at veterans cemeteries.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, the truck company delivering the wreaths to the cemeteries, will be here as their drivers exchange keys.  There will be a brief program to remember the fallen this holiday season. Through the month of December, J.B. Hunt will deliver over 207,000 “veteran’s wreaths” to veteran cemeteries across the county.

The “veteran’s wreath” consists of ten balsam bouquets, symbolizing ten qualities all veterans embody. The wreaths are tied with a red ribbon to symbolize a veteran’s sacrifice.

This ceremony is part of 38 similar key exchange ceremonies across the country. Refreshments will be provided by the Virginia War Memorial Foundation in Veterans’ Art Gallery for our guests.