The Wreaths Across America event to honor veterans will take place Saturday, December 12, at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia. The Richmond Chapter of American Gold Star Mothers (AGSM) and Frances Randolph Bland Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) and the City of Petersburg Department of Cultural Affairs, Arts, Tourism and Museums will conduct the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Memorial Hill section bandstand at noon on Saturday, December 12.
Seven ceremonial wreaths will be placed to remember those who served, to honor their sacrifices, and to teach younger generations about the high cost of our freedoms. These designated wreaths for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and POW/MIA organizations will be placed during the ceremony that will be held simultaneously at over 800 participating locations across the country.
Since 2008 the United States Congress has unanimously designated the second Saturday of December as National Wreaths Across America Day. This year will mark the 24th anniversary of the donation of Maine wreaths to be placed on headstones at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, and the tenth year of the national wreath sponsorship campaign under the guidance of the non-profit Wreaths.Across.America.org, that will bring the same remembrance wreaths to veterans’ cemeteries, monuments, and community centers across the nation.
This year it is projected that more than 160,000 volunteers will take part in the Wreaths Across America mission to “Remember, Honor and Teach: Cemeteries are for the living. Every stone tells a story.” It is to show veterans and their families that we will not forget. If you would like to sponsor a wreath to be placed at Blandford Cemetery, please visit http://www.wreathacrossamerica.org; click on Honor Fallen Heroes in Your Community – click on Sponsor Locally – click on VABFCP for Blandford Cemetery to have a wreath sent to the location. To sponsor a fund-raising group, type VA0117P in the Find a Fund Raising Group link. For further information, please call Lula Lamb at (804) 477-4822, or email lamb.lula@gmail.com. Deadline to donate online for the 2015 ceremony is Tuesday, December 1.