Sgt. Carter Cooper leads the pledge of allegiance at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony May 27, 2024, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Cooper is the Virginia National Guard Soldier of the Year and was also the top finisher at the National Guard Bureau Region II Best Warrior Competition. He will represent Virginia and Region II at the national-level competition later this summer in Vermont. Read more about Cooper and the Regional BWC at https://ngpa.us/29745.