DATES OF NEXT 3 YEARS OF WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA!!!!!

 

A great day for the WAA ceremony!  Weather was cloudy and cool, but no rain, nor snow, nor ICE!!!! That was a plus!
Below is a link to the video taken by Echo Menges, Edina Sentinel reporter and editor who videoed for us.  Great job, Echo!

https://www.facebook.com/nemonews.net/videos/666734583860211/?t=0

 Here are a few stills from the ceremony as well:

MC for the day was Lt. Col (ret) Keith Gudehus.  






Color Guard presented by Edina American Legion Post.                                                               Buglers were Matthew Kriegshauser and Elaine Shinkle.
 
Ceremonial wreaths placed by veterans (or family) of each branch:  Army--Maynard Blackwood, Navy--David Roush, Air Force--Jeff Love (for father John Love), Marines--Randy Shultz, Merchant Marines--Matt Kriegshauser (for father Carl Kriegshauser), Coast Guard--Dale Prather; POW/MIA--Sharon Harrison (for brother Leroy VanSickle, who was a POW during WWII in Europe).

IT'S TIME!!!!

Our 4th annual project is nearly here!  The wreaths were delivered Tuesday morning--well, Monday night at midnight was when the 18-wheeler got in to Novelty.  He parked to rest until 7:00 am. when Joyce's son and family, and Judith, Ronald and Shirley , arrived to unload the 46 boxes of wreaths in to the center.  Earlier a tarp had been placed over the carpet to keep those pesky needles from being felt throughout the year!!!! (And a big THANKS to the Novelty Elevator--ADM for donating the tarp to us!)

Jim and Marsha had placed the banner at the cemetery on Sunday afternoon advertising the upcoming ceremony on Saturday.

Tuesday, after coffee, Marsha, Judith, Diana, and Carolyn had unloaded the boxes, then replaced the wreaths in them and have them separated for various pickups for cemeteries.  In addition to Novelty cemetery being fully covered with wreaths for its veterans, Bee Ridge cemetery will also be.  Mt. Salem will be, and many many in the St. Joseph cemetery as well.  Other cemeteries receiving "grave specific" wreaths will include Locust Hill, St. Aloysius at Baring, Newark, Linville in Edina,  Cockrum and Eucebia in rural Knox County.  A few are going outside the county.  An interesting note:  a former resident of Knox County had found our page on the WAA website.  She ordered two wreaths for her father and uncle who are buried in St. Aloysius, plus two to be placed at the entrance to the cemetery.  We are thankful for your contribution, Diane!  And other cemeteries, like Cockrum and Eucebia, will be receiving one or two wreaths, to be placed at their entrance..as we are either unsure how many veterans are buried there, or families no longer are around to sponsor indiviidual wreaths. 

This year we sponsored more wreaths than we ever have in the past--we have over 400 stacked in the Center!  After the ceremony at the church and cemetery, people may come to the center to get their wreath, simply signing out for it.  No big problem.  I just sincerely hope that ALL remember to come pick them up!

Another post, hopefully tomorrow afternoon--after the ceremony and all wreaths are gone. 
Weather is supposed to be cold tomorrow--chance of some rain in the morning, but hopefully that is past by 11:00 a.m.!

DECK THE CENTER WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY! (or wreaths of Balsam!)

Novelty Senior Citizens' met on Thursday, December 5, 2019 for the monthly luncheon.  The center was festively decorated for the Christmas season, complete with tree.  Phyllis was there from the health department to take blood pressures, and give out other information.  Shortly after noon, Diana led the pledge to the flag, and Denis gave the blessing for the food.  Diana celebrated a birthday this month, so "Happy Birthday" was sung to her, and she blew out candles on the birthday pie (made by Judith).  Others there were Judith, Marsha, and Dorothy.  We were glad to have Phyllis stay and join us in eating our lunch.

  

Judith and Diana did the cleanup.  About 1:15, Diana called the business meeting to order.  Minutes were read by Marsha, and approved.  Judith gave the financial report:  that too was approved. 

Business items discussed included:

1.       We will have our "Christmas Snack Day" at coffee on December 17th.  Anyone is welcome to join us.  We will have coffee, tea, and any Christmas snacks you'd like to share with the group.  This will also be for the Green Acres FCE club. 

2.       Wreaths Across America project.

a.       Joyce has received the ceremonial flags.  These are the small ones that are on the wreaths that are placed by members (or family) of each particular branch of the service--army, navy, marines, merchant marines, air force, and coast guard, along with family members of someone who was a POW/MIA. 

b.       The programs are in the process:  Joyce and Judith have worked hard to get a nice program to give out to those who attend the ceremony. 

c.       Judith will get the bigger flags from the Knox City American Legion post to use that day at the ceremony. 

d.       The triangle that was used to hold the wreaths at the cemetery is not available:  Judith will get some boards (paid for with funds from the center) and get it remade.  Jim will put up the invitation banner at the cemetery reminding people of the ceremony a week ahead of time. 

e.        We have sponsored 393 wreaths for veterans buried in Knox County.  Thank you to all who have helped us in this project.  We are not sure when the wreaths will arrive, but sometime next week, before Saturday the 14th!!! (We hope).  We will need to place the tarp down on the center's floor to keep the balsam needles off the carpet.  The wreaths will be at the cemetery prior to the ceremony at the Novelty Christian Church.  All are invited to come to the cemetery and help place those 90 wreaths there.  If you have a wreath for another cemetery or veteran elsewhere, please come to the Senior Center AFTER the ceremony to pick it up.

3.       Coffee makers were assigned for the month of December:  10th--Diana; 17th--Marsha; 24th--Judith; 31st--Donna Faye.  Next monthly luncheon will be on January 2, 2020, with Diana making the birthday cake for that month.