Volunteers placed holiday wreaths to honor and remember our nation’s Veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Chattanooga National Cemetery on Saturday.
“These wreaths show the appreciation of a grateful nation,” said cemetery Director Deborah Kendrick. “This event honors the service and sacrifice of the Veterans who fought to preserve our freedoms.”
The Civil Air Patrol organizes the wreath-laying ceremonies with assistance from local citizens and Veterans service organizations as a part of Wreaths Across America. All 131 VA national cemeteries receive at least seven wreaths, one for each service branch, one for the Merchant Marine and one for Prisoners of War and those Missing In Action (POW/MIA).
This is the eighth year of Wreaths Across America, a nationwide program which distributes holiday wreaths as a tribute to Veterans laid to rest at VA national cemeteries and state Veterans cemeteries. It is also the 22nd year that the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, will take holiday wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. Through this program, company president Morrill Worcester seeks to recognize Veterans, active duty military and their families. His goal is to remind the public to remember the Veterans, honor their service, and teach children the value of freedom.
For more information about this event, call the cemetery administration office at 423 855-6590 or visit the NCA website at www.cem.va.gov/cem/features.asp or the Wreaths Across America website at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/.