Wreaths Across America Escort to Arlington stopping at Dover Motor Speedway on Thursday, Dec. 11

Dover Motor Speedway will once again welcome the only Delaware stop on the annual Wreaths Across America Escort to Arlington on Thursday, Dec. 11, as the multi-state convoy continues its mission to honor America's fallen service members.

Each December, volunteers across the country place millions of wreaths on the graves of U.S. veterans as part of Wreaths Across America's year-round commitment to Remember, Honor, and Teach. Dover Motor Speedway is proud to continue supporting this deeply meaningful national tradition.

The 2025 convoy includes tractor-trailers carrying wreaths accompanied by Patriot Guard Riders, veterans, Gold Star Families, first responders, and supporters. The procession will enter Dover Motor Speedway and gather at the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza for a public ceremony before resuming its journey to Arlington National Cemetery.

The Thursday, Dec. 11 schedule, all times approximate:

3:15 p.m. - Convoy arrives at Dover Motor Speedway via Leipsic Road, featuring approximately 60 vehicles, including 13 tractor-trailers, 15 passenger vans, Patriot Guard Riders, law enforcement escorts, Gold Star family members, and first responders.

3:45 p.m. - Free remembrance ceremony begins at the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza, Dover Motor Speedway's iconic 46-foot landmark honoring Monster Mile champions. The one-hour program will feature patriotic presentations, wreath ceremonies, representatives from Dover Air Force Base, elected officials, community and political leaders, musical tributes, special guest speakers, and a military flyover.

5:15 p.m. - Convoy departs Dover Motor Speedway, continuing its journey enroute to Arlington National Cemetery ahead of National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

Matt Pencek, Morning News Anchor for CoastTV, will emcee the ceremonies.

Scheduled participants and presenters include: Mike Tatoian, president and general manager of Dover Motor Speedway; Tiffany Strout of Wreaths Across America; the 436th Airlift Wing Honor Guard from Dover Air Force Base; Capt. Ronald Gogan, chaplain, Dover Air Force Base; Abraham Lee, Jonah Lee and Josiah Worcester, grandsons of Wreaths Across America founders Morrill and Karen Worcester; Senior Master Sgt. Meco Morales, 9th Airlift Squadron; a C-5 Galaxy flyover from Dover Air Force Base; Colonel Jamil Musa, commander, 436th Airlift Wing; Doug Poore, Kent County Coordinator for Wreaths Across America; the Delaware Celtic Society Pipe Band; Bugles Across America; and Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. Additional elements of the ceremony will include honorary wreath presentations and a special "What Is a Veteran's Wreath?" construction demonstration.

Thursday's events will be broadcast on Wreaths Across America Radio, available on the iHeart Radio, Audacy, and TuneIn apps.

ABOUT WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

What began 33 years ago as a single truck delivering 5,000 wreaths from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has grown into a national movement involving millions of volunteers and thousands of participating locations.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the annual wreath-laying tradition begun by Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission-Remember, Honor, Teach-is carried out through education programs, community outreach, and wreath-laying ceremonies each December.

Wreaths Across America's 2025 Escort to Arlington-often described as the nation's longest veterans' parade-launches on Saturday, Dec. 6, with stops in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., before its arrival at Arlington National Cemetery. National Wreaths Across America Day will be observed on Saturday, Dec. 13, with ceremonies at more than 5,500 participating locations worldwide.

This year's convoy includes national representatives from American Gold Star Mothers, The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the VFW Auxiliary, AMVETS, and additional Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs). Members of the Patriot Guard Riders, Patriot Riders, and law enforcement agencies from across New England accompany the escort, with additional support in Delaware from the City of Dover Police Department and the Delaware State Police.

"We are honored to welcome Wreaths Across America back to Dover Motor Speedway as the escort continues its journey to Arlington," said Mike Tatoian, president and general manager of Dover Motor Speedway. "This ceremony is a meaningful opportunity for our community to reflect on the service and sacrifice of our nation's heroes. We invite everyone to join us on Dec. 11 as we pay tribute together."

Dover Motor Speedway thanks the many partners contributing their time and expertise to present this year's event, including:

Bally's Dover Casino Resort; Carter Machinery; Collective Event Group; City of Dover Fire Department; City of Dover Police Department; Delaware Dept. of Transportation; Delaware State Police; International Sound Corporation; Little Creek Fire Company; Kent County Department of Public Safety, Paramedics & Ambulance Support; M&M Parking; Mission BBQ; Royal Prime Event; Waste Masters Solutions; and all Dover Motor Speedway employees and volunteers who are donating their time and talents to make the event special.