Jim Atkins spoke eloquently about the many wonderful individuals who succumb to breast cancer as he dedicated a recently planted line of cherry trees on the hill behind The Middleburg Community Center.

"Today we gather in our beautiful town…to honor friends and family, some alive and some deceased, with cherry trees that each Spring will bear radiant white blossoms heralding spring and the transition from darkness and cold to sunshine and warmth."

The Cherry Blossom Breast Cancer Foundation which Jim and others founded to honor his wife Cheryl Clayton Atkins, planted the trees in honor of Cheryl, Mary M. Stokes, Claudia W. Young, the women in our community who have fought and triumphed over breast cancer and the women in our community who live valiantly and courageously every day with breast cancer.

Reverend Anne C. Hallmark, Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, led a prayer of dedication.