LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The 12th “Wreaths Across America” commemoration in Lake County is set to take place on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Wreaths Across America honors veterans. Each year, millions of Americans come together to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families, and teach the next generation about the value of freedom.
This gathering of individuals and communities takes place in local and national cemeteries in all 50 states as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.
In Lake County, ceremonies are being held at Hartley, Kelseyville, Lower Lake, Middletown, St. Mary’s and Upper Lake cemeteries.
This year’s theme is, "Everyone plays a part."
In 2018 nearly 1.8 million veterans’ wreaths were placed in total across the country in all 50 states – 253,000 of them at Arlington National Cemetery.
Two million volunteers participated last year at 1,640 locations nationwide, with 61,000 volunteers laying wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. More than a third of the volunteers across the country were children.
Approximately 600 truckloads of wreaths were delivered across the country by hundreds of volunteer professional truck drivers using donated equipment and fuel. There also was the first placement of 9,387 veterans’ wreaths at Normandy-American Cemetery in France.
Youth organizations are reaching out for sponsorships to place as many wreaths as possible on veterans’ gravesites and anyone is invited to participate.
If you would like to volunteer visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.com , look for the volunteer button, set yourself up as a volunteer at one of the six Lake County cemeteries and then you will receive up-to-date information by email.
Boy Scout Troop 42 in Lakeport, Girl Scouts in Kelseyville, the Lake County 4-H Group and FFA will be accepting donations for wreaths until Dec. 2.
Individual sponsorships cost $15 for one wreath and the family option costs $60 for four wreaths.
Small businesses can fund 10 wreaths for $150 and corporations can sponsor 100 or more wreaths for $1,500 or any amount can be sponsored for $15 per wreath.
Toni Funderburg, coordinator of Wreaths Across American in Lake County, said sponsorship forms can be picked up at Lakeport Tire & Auto Service, 1901 S. Main St. in Lakeport; call 707-263-5422 and they will fax or email you a sponsorship form; or visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and sponsor a wreath and payment can be made with a credit card. Please make sure to designate the cemetery and sponsoring group.
‘Wreaths Across America’ planned for Dec. 14
- Lake County News reports
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