At several cemeteries across Lebanon County, volunteers soon will place wreaths on the gravesites of local veterans to help keep their memories alive through the holidays.
Wreaths Across America is an annual ceremony that began more than 30 years ago, according to the organization’s website. It’s held each year on the second or third Saturday of December and includes “the world’s largest veterans’ parade,” organizers say, with a yearly pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery.
Each year, the website explains, “the convoy of trucks, local law enforcement, staff and supporters stop at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities along the way to talk about the Wreaths Across America mission and remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach.”
Last year, Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers placed more than 2.7 million sponsored wreaths on veterans’ headstones at 3,702 participating locations. “This was accomplished with the support of more than 5,000 sponsorship groups, corporation contributions, and in-kind donations from the transportation industry across the country,” the organization explains.
Locally, the largest event will be held at noon on Saturday, Dec. 16, at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, where more than 60,000 veterans are interred.
“This is one of many ways we honor our Fallen Heroes,” David Klimas, who is serving his first year as president of the Friends of Wreaths Across America at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, told LebTown in an email. “But to honor them at this time of year, this close to the holidays, just seems to keep them closer to our hearts as we head towards the Christmas season.”
Klimas said he he expects “upwards of 2,500 people” to volunteer at the IGNC ceremony, although “I would say that is probably a low estimate.” Volunteers, he added, “will be placing nearly 40,000 wreaths on the resting sites of our Fallen Heroes interred at Indiantown National Gap Cemetery.”
Also in Lebanon County, ceremonies will take place simultaneously at Covenant Greenwood Ebenezer Cemetery, Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Palmyra Cemetery, Richland Cemetery, and Zoars Lutheran Mt. Zion Cemetery.
The Palmyra event will also take place on Saturday, Dec. 16, at noon. The cemetery, located on West Cherry Street, is the final resting place of 68 veterans who will be honored with wreaths laid in a ceremony hosted by Palmyra VFW Memorial Post 6417.
Bonnie L. Loy, site manager at Covenant Greenwood Cemetery in Ebenezer, said they reached their goal of 1,200 wreaths this year.
“We have just under 1,100 veterans buried at the cemetery,” Loy said. “The additional wreaths will go to Soldiers block at Mt. Lebanon cemetery.”
She added, “We have a lovely memorial service supported by the community. This year we also had some local businesses that have been an awesome help in attaining our goal.”
Charlotte Peffley, who is co-coordinator for Wreaths Across America at the Richland Cemetery with Gary Althouse, told LebTown she isn’t sure how many volunteers will attend the ceremony, but “we are very thankful to have reached our goal of placing a wreath on all the 157 (veterans’) graves at the Richland Cemetery, and are very grateful for everyone in the community who supported us to make this possible.”
Peffley noted that state Rep. Russ Diamond will attend the ceremony at Richland, along with the Richland Legion Post 880 Color Guard, Theodore Weaver playing “Taps,” and the group Richland Express, which will sing the National Anthem.
“Members of the Lebanon VFW Civil Air Patrol Squadron 307 will volunteer at the ceremony,” Peffley said. “When a wreath is placed, we ask that the volunteers say the veteran’s name out loud and thank them for their service, continuing their story for the next generation.”
Editor’s note: This article was updated after publication with additional information about the Palmyra ceremony.
Questions about this story? Suggestions for a future LebTown article? Reach our newsroom using this contact form and we’ll do our best to get back to you.
Free news isn’t cheap. If you value the journalism LebTown provides to the community, then help us make it sustainable by becoming a champion of local news. You can unlock additional coverage for the community by supporting our work with a one-time contribution, or joining as a monthly or annual member. You can cancel anytime.
