Wreaths Across America to return to Vernon

VERNON — Once again the Glenwood Cemetery will be the site of the annual wreath laying ceremony of Wreaths Across America.

Last year was the inaugural year for the event, which garnered a great deal of community support. This year, location coordinator Justine Van Blarcom wants to top that success.

“We raised about 120 wreaths last year,” Van Blarcom said. “There are about 200 graves at Glenwood Cemetery and our goal is a wreath for each one.”

What began as a small group placing wreaths on the graves of veterans at the Arlington Nation Cemetery in 1992 has grown to a nationwide annual event on a designated Saturday, with location coordinators across the country.

As the wife of a combat veteran and mother of 4, Van Blarcom is very involved in the school and wanted to do something to honor our fallen military and veterans.

“It’s a lot of planning and organizing,” Van Blarcom said. “I love working with the kids and the community.”

Van Blarcocm said last year's event was moving and beautiful and the kids loved it.

"They had such a feeling of community, they loved it,” she said.

The Junior National Honor Society at Glenwood Middle School and the Walnut Ridge Primary School are working to raise funds and create awareness of the ceremony, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 12, at 10 a.m.

In attendance will be a veteran from each branch of the military, whom will be presented with a wreath by one of the students. Musicians will be present and the Sherriff’s Dept. will attend as the Color Guard. After the ceremony, the public is invited to pick a wreath with their family and place it on the grave of their choice.

Glenwood Middle School will hold competitions between homeroom classes to raise the most wreaths and Walnut Ridge Primary School will raise funds throughout November to support the ceremony.

For more information visit: http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/.