TOP STORY OF THE DAY, brought to you free by WICU: ‘Wreaths Across America’ event set Saturday at Calcutta Cemetery

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,100 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states.

The Eliza Rizley Stacey Chapter of Brazil, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, is hosting their first annual wreath laying on Saturday, December 18th at Calcutta Cemetery at noon.

Everyone is invited to attend. Following the official ceremony, you may help with the actual laying of the wreaths. Each veteran’s grave will be marked and wreaths will be tenderly laid at each one.

If you’ve seen photos of Arlington Cemetery with all the fresh green wreaths and red bows, you know what a moving sight it is!

Thanks to the overwhelming support of individuals and groups, there is a wreath for every veteran - approximately 300 of them!

The Brazil Rotary Club surprised coordinator Janella Knierim at a recent meeting with a check for nearly $700 to pay for the remaining wreaths which were not covered by donations.

“We plan to do this again next year and add another cemetery or two,” Knierim said.

For more information, you may go to www.wreathsacrossmerica.org/IN0143.

Calvary Cemetery in Terre Haute will also be participating.

With more than 2,500 participating locations, and more than two million volunteers, Wreaths Across America has galvanized the country each holiday to honor our Nation’s Heroes. Through Calvary’s participation, local residents have an opportunity to not only Remember their loved ones but to Honor all Veterans and Teach future generations of their sacrifices.

Calvary Cemetery has more than 515 veterans laid to rest in the local cemetery. Resident’s support of the program has resulted in a 25% increase in the number of Veterans that will be honored this year over last. “We are so grateful for the support we have received for this program”, said Larry Silver, Calvary Cemetery. “Our goal is, and will continue to be, to grow this program each year so that every Veteran buried within our property will be recognized and honored”.

Wreaths Across America is the non-profit organization best known for placing veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s fallen at Arlington National Cemetery. However, the organization, in total, places more than 1.7 million sponsored wreaths at 2557 participating locations nationwide and offers other programs throughout the calendar year. These programs include The Mobile Education Exhibit and Wreaths Across America Radio, among other education programs.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Press contact:

Earlier this month, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King designating Saturday, December 18th, 2021, as “Wreaths Across America Day.” A convoy of volunteers will travel from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery to lay Maine-made balsam wreaths at the headstones of American veterans interred there.

“Wreaths Across America is a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans – both those that we’ve lost and those still with us,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “We are so proud that this heartfelt expression of gratitude originated in our great state and has become an enduring symbol of our nation’s gratitude for veterans’ valor and sacrifice. This resolution remembers and honors America’s veterans this holiday season, while also teaching younger generations of the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedoms and to defend our liberty.”

The general public can register to participate in Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery here.

Thousands of volunteers are expected to lay the wreaths at the graves of each American veteran. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place wreaths at 3,100 locations nationwide.