WAA CEREMONY, 2021

Today, December 18, 2021, was the National Wreaths Across America ceremony.  Locally, we celebrated as well.  We had beautiful weather--not as warm as earlier in the week (when it was 70 degrees!) but in the upper 30's, sunny and not too breezy.  

We had received our wreaths on Monday afternoon.  Help from Jeff Love and son, Jim Pinson, Kent Franke, and David Howard to unload the 45 boxes from the truck.  On Thursday,  Carolyn, Judith, Joyce, and Marsha met at the center to unpack and "fluff" the wreaths and getting them organized into the various groups to be picked up on Saturday.  

Saturday morning had a few (very few, as we discouraged it) coming prior to the ceremony to pick up their wreath(s).  At 11:00 we held the ceremony at the Novelty Christian Church.  Larry Clark served as the MC of the event.  The national anthem was sung by all present, led by Carolyn, followed by recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Those placing the ceremonial wreaths were:  Barb Simpson, Army;  David Roush, Navy;  Jeff Love, Air Force, in memory of his dad, airman John Love;  Randy Shultz, Marines;  Matt Kriegshauser, Merchant Marines in memory of his dad, Carl Kriegshauser;  Kathy McMahon in honor of her son, Sean Arndt, a retired Coast Guard;  Jim Pinson laying the wreath in memory of Knox County POW's--Leroy Vansickle, Stanley Walker, and Raymond McConnell.    

The Cyril Graham American Legion Post from Edina gave the 21-gun salute, and Kent Hagerla played TAPS.  Those present then went to the cemetery to place the 85 wreaths on the graves of veterans buried there.  Veterans are buried there from the Civil War, up through the present,  (Video of ceremony is below).

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=notif&v=950628382503427&notif_id=1639846825112150&notif_t=live_video_explicit

People who had purchased wreaths for other veterans in other cemeteries then came to the Senior Center to pick those up.  We had over 400 wreaths sold, for cemeteries throughout Knox County as well as in Shelby Co. Macon County, Lewis County, and  Adair County.

We thank all who attended, participated in the ceremony, placed wreaths, and just bought the wreaths.  We are indeed grateful for all our community support.  Thanks especially to Echo Menges, of the Edina Sentinel, for filming the event  and putting it on facebook.  

                             NOVELTY NEWSPAPER

Did you know that Novelty used to have a newspaper?  Well, it did--over 100 years ago!  And here is a copy of the front page!!!!!

Thank you, Lynn (Browning) VanDolah for sharing it with us!

   Our local ceremony is this same day.                                                                     Time is 11:00 a.m.                                                                                                                       Location:  Novelty Christian Church      Wreaths will be placed at the Novelty cemetery immediately afterward.   Purchased wreaths for other cemeteries may be picked up at the Center starting about 11:30 a.m.

             DECEMBER 2021 LUNCHEON

Our monthly luncheon was Thursday, December 2, 2021. After the pledge and prayer, we celebrated two birthdays--Diana and Carolyn.  Judith had made pies for them in lieu of cake, as that was their request.

After calling the business meeting to order, Judith read the minutes, left by Marsha, and made the motion to approve them.  Carolyn seconded.  Judith then gave the treasurer's report and made the motion to approve those.  Carolyn seconded those.  Both motions passed

Joyce was here on Tuesday, November 30, to get names for the wreath ceremonoy.  Carolyn was to ask Ray Prebe and Dud Gillespy to help in laying the memorial wreaths.  

Coffee makers for the month are December 7--Marsha; 14--Diana (and that is our "snack day" with the Green Acres FCE); December 21--Judith;  December 28--Marsha; and January 4--Judith.   Diana will bake the cake for January as Jim has a birthday.  

Judith made motion to adjourn, Dorothy seconded.  Next luncheon is January 6.  Busy month ahead with the wreaths' ceremony and distribution on December 18.