Laying wreaths for Wreaths Across America

The countdown has begun.  Nine days until our Wreaths across America ceremony!  We still are not sure WHEN the wreaths will arrive, sometime next week.  We will receive an email, then a phone call from the truck driver giving a closer arrival to our destination.  We will definitely need some help in unloading that truck--if you can help, call 660-739-4525 to let me know.  We do have several that have volunteered to help do that...thank you!

Wreaths will be stored in the Novelty American Legion Hall until the ceremony on Saturday.  At 9:30, we will have a "parade" taking the wreaths for the Novelty cemetery to the location.  Some help will be needed a bit prior to that time to get them loaded!  

If you are coming to the ceremony, please park on side streets first, so traffic on Highway 156 will not be impeded.  The ceremony will be held on the south end of the cemetery, closest to the highway. (If you have difficulty standing, you might wish to bring a chair.)  We have a high school girl that will be singing the national anthem.  Any elementary student (grades K-5) in attendance will be asked to come forward and help lead in the pledge of allegiance...(part of the Remember, Honor, TEACH motto of Wreaths Across America). 

Master of Ceremonies will be Lt. Col. (Ret) Keith Gudehus.  County-wide VFW and American Legions will provide a color guard.  Each of the commemorative wreaths will be placed by a veteran of that branch, or a family member of that person.  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard, and POW/MIA.  We have veterans from WW!! through the present war participating in this.   TAPS will be played by a high school student.  Then all present who sponsored a "grave-specific" wreath for that cemetery, will be asked to come up and get their wreath.and take it to the grave.  When the wreath is placed, those doing so are asked to SAY THEIR NAME and thank them for their service.  A person dies twice: once when they take their final breath, and later, the last time their name is spoken. We do not want them to "die twice"...say their name!  After families have placed their wreaths, we have volunteers (or YOU can volunteer too) to place the wreaths on the rest of the veterans in the cemetery.  Help will likely be needed to lay wreaths at the Locust Hill Cemetery and Mt. Salem Cemetery as we had enough sponsorships to lay wreaths at ALL veterans buried in those 3 cemeteries.  Thank you to all who gave money that went toward non-specified graves.  Whether you contributed for a wreath, or just put your change in one of our donation "boots"....you are much appreciated.

If you sponsored a grave-specific wreath for someone in another cemetery:  After the ceremony, please come to the Novelty Legion Hall to pick up your wreath to then take to your loved ones' grave.  

Now, pray for good weather for the day!  I am sure it will be cold, but hopefully no snow, or rain/sleet, or wind!    Hope to see YOU December 17th, 11:00 a.m. (or sooner) at the Novelty Cemetery to remember and honor our veterans.  Wreaths Across America.