Anthem seniors lay wreath to remember unknown soldiers in Arlington
April 24
In March 2026, two Anthem high school seniors took an unforgettable trip to Washington D.C. to help honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Great Hearts Anthem Preparatory seniors Luke Serdar and Christopher Kriege were selected to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Since 1921, the tomb has served as a final resting place for unidentified military members and represents the remains of soldiers who were never recovered from past wars. The tomb is guarded by a soldier 24 hours a day and every hour there is a change of guard with a ceremony that takes place. During the months of April – September the guards are changed every half hour.
Past senior classes have taken the trip to the nation’s capital before, but this was the first time students got to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Kriege and Serdar learned about the opportunity to be selected to help lay a wreath at the tomb, and they both jumped at the chance. They wrote essays on why they wanted to be selected to lay the wreath at the tomb and were both chosen.
“It was just really cool to get that close to it and do something to honor the dead,” Kriege said.
“We were pretty excited because normally we would go to Arlington National Cemetery and see the changing of the guard. And I mean, that’s very nice, but it’s a whole different kind of event to participate in and to take a small part in,” he continued.
What did Anthem seniors learn from the experience?
Johanna Chumley is a history and art teacher at Great Hearts Anthem, who also attended the trip. She said there is an application process for groups and schools to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“There’s maybe a few hundred opportunities throughout the year to be able to participate in that. And they selected our school, and so we were able to do it”, Chumley said.
Once a group or school is selected to lay a wreath, it must be purchased from a specific place. Great Hearts Anthem staff pitched in donations to help buy the wreath, Chumley said.
Serdar said laying the wreath was one of the highlights of his senior trip, but he also enjoyed other parts of the trip.
Serdar said one of his favorite moments was when they rode on an underground subway and reemerged to the surface and ended up in the middle of a big mall.
“You look to your left and you see the huge Washington Monument standing right there. And that was just such an incredible introduction to D.C. And it’s probably one of my favorite parts behind the wreath,” Serdar said.
The curriculum at Great Hearts Anthem focuses on students learning about the Constitution and understanding world history, Chumley said.
“What a powerful way to move into adulthood and be able to function as a good citizen knowing your founding documents,” Chumley said.
Serdar plans to join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, ROTC and has always been interested in a military career.
Kriege hopes to go on to college and continue his studies, but said the trip held special meaning for him. His great uncle fought in World War II and happens to be buried at Arlington Cemetery.
“Participating in that ceremony was a way to remember him. And later on in the trip, I visited his grave as well and paid my respects to him. And it was very nice to do that, to honor my family,” Kriege said.
Reporting by “Arizona Horizon” Education Solutions Reporter Roxanne De La Rosa. Her role is made possible through grant funding from the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund and Report for America.
