The eighty-second annual ceremony commemorating the anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth was held at the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin in Washington at 11 AM on April 13, 2025. Richard E. Patten, past president, DC Sons of the American Revolution served as the Master of Ceremonies. The event was presented by DCSAR in cooperation with the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Military District of Washington, and as in the past seventeen years, was organized by DCSAR Secretary and Past President Paul Hays. A patriotic musical prelude, the National Anthem, and postlude were rendered by the U.S. Navy Brass Quintet. Colors were presented by a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard. The invocation and benediction were delivered by the Rev. Dr. John DeWitt Stonesifer, DCSAR Chaplain.

Guests were welcomed by the Interior Department’s Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, Kevin Greiss.

The Presidential wreath was presented at 8:00 AM by Major General Trevor J. Bredenkamp, Commanding General, Military District of Washington. The wreath of the Secretary of the Interior, the Honorable Doug Burgum, was presented by Kevin Greiss.

The President of the University of Virginia, James E. Ryan, was represented by Lucy and Mark Tonacci. The wreath of Jane Kamensky, President and CEO of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, custodian of Monticello was presented by Nancy and Walter Douglass.

The wreath of DCSAR, host of the event, was presented by its President Brock D. Bierman, who also presented the NSSAR wreath on behalf of President General Dr. Darryl S. Addington.

Wreaths were then presented by representatives of the General Society of the War of 1812, Maryland and Virginia SARs, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, National and DC Societies US Daughters of 1812, Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Order of First Families of Virginia, National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, National Society Children of the American Colonists, Society of the Descendents of the Signers of the Constitution, Hereditary Order of the Families of the Presidents and First Ladies of America, National Society Children of 1812, National Society Descendants of American Farmers and their Youth Branch, and the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society.

The ceremony concluded with the sounding of Taps, and a postlude by the Navy Band Brass Quintet.

The D.C. Society has organized and hosted this commemoration each year since the dedication of the Jefferson Memorial on April 13, 1943, the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s birth.