"Wreaths" reaches goal

Mike McCoy photo The American Legion Post #59 Honor Guard will be part of the special Wreaths Across America ceremony to be held Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield. The Honor Guard is shown at the cemetery at a previous event. Seven ceremonial wreaths will be laid during the ceremony, after which wreaths will be placed on each veteran's grave at the cemetery.

This marks the second consecutive year that enough money was raised through charitable groups, churches, civic groups and individuals to cover every grave at the cemetery in Bloomfield. Last year there were more donations for wreaths than needed at Bloomfield and many wreaths were distributed throughout cemeteries in Stoddard County.

Ken Swearingen, with Missouri Veteran's Cemetery, said 50 wreaths were distributed to the American Legion to be put on veterans grave sites at other cemeteries in the county and wreaths were also laid on sites at the Memorial Civil War Cemetery at Bloomfield. Swearingen said the first Wreaths Across America ceremony was held three years ago at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. That year it involved placing the seven ceremonial wreaths without outside sponsorship. Last year was the first time an effort was made to raise funding for wreaths for the entire cemetery.

Teresa Wright, with the Patriot Guard Riders out of Chaffee, expressed her appreciation to the many groups and individuals who helped sponsor the event this year. She looks forward to the ceremony and a chance to view the many wreaths that will decorate the cemetery as a result of the generosity of the people in Southeast Missouri.

Swearingen said that Wreaths Across America is a nationwide event and that is why it will begin at 11 a.m. The event started at Arlington National Cemetery as a way to honor those that have served their country in the armed forces. The ceremony begins at noon there on Dec. 12, which is why it will be 11 a.m. here in the Central Time Zone.

Beginning on Sunday, Dec. 6, over 150,000 donated Christmas wreaths from the State of Maine will begin their journey to over 400 state and national veterans cemeteries all across the country as part of the annual Wreaths Across America project.

"Escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders and other support groups, the wreaths will make their 18th annual trek to Arlington National Cemetery, where they will make their eventual home adorning the graves of our veterans -- a solemn tribute to those who serve and those who made the ultimate sacrifice," said a press release from Wreaths Across America.

The Wreaths Across America' story began over 18 years ago when the Worcester Wreath Company initiated a tradition of donating and placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation's fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. Recognition of the service and sacrifice of our veterans, and their families, is especially poignant during the traditional holiday season.

Worcester Wreath Company continues to be a major supporter of the project, donating over 25,000 total wreaths in 2008. Over 100,000 wreaths will be sponsored by individuals, businesses, and groups from communities nationwide.

Wreaths will be placed in all 50 states from Maine to Alaska and Hawaii, at several locations in Iraq, and at 24 national cemeteries on foreign soil.