GUERNSEY — There was a reverent, somber atmosphere Saturday at Prairie Rest Cemetery as volunteers from the community and Guernsey VFW Post #4471 and its Auxiliary, began to decorate veterans’ graves in honor of Wreaths Across America.
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GUERNSEY — There was a reverent, somber atmosphere Saturday at Prairie Rest Cemetery as volunteers from the community and Guernsey VFW Post #4471 and its Auxiliary, began to decorate veterans’ graves in honor of Wreaths Across America.
The wreath program is an American nonprofit organization established in 2007 by wreath producer Morrill Worcester, assisted by veterans and truckers. The primary goal of the organization is to distribute wreaths for placement on American veterans’ graves. In December 2008, the United States Senate agreed to a resolution that designated December 13, 2008, as Wreaths Across America Day. There have been subsequent National Wreaths Across America Days which have been designated on the second or third Saturday of December.
In Guernsey, volunteers unpacked 198 fresh-cut pine wreaths and individually attached the wreaths to grave markers of the fallen soldiers in the cemetery.
“What an honor it was to place the wreaths on the graves of our brave men and women, including as far back as our Union War Soldiers,” Ellie Behrmann, Jr. Vice Commander, Post 4471 Auxiliary. She added, “There were solemn moments, as we quietly thanked and prayed for each soldier individually. What a great day.”
The official ceremony commemorating Wreaths Across America day took place on Saturday, December 16.
Due to the increasing costs of wreaths for each veteran buried in the Prairie View Cemetery, next year the VFW Post #4471 will be seeking a different method of recognizing these veterans.
