Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy will participate in the Wreaths Across America program, which honors our nation's veterans.  Founded in 2006 in Maine, the organization began by laying wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery.  Each year since that time, thousands of wreaths have been simultaneously laid on graves of US service mena and women throughout the United States and overseas.

 

Last year was our first year to participate.  We learned about the event only 10 days before it was scheduled!  Prior to our participation, the nearest participating cemeteries at the time were in Andersonville and Milledgeville.  With the help of the Middle Georgia Logisitics Officers Association, RAFB, and the Knights of Columbus, we had a beautiful ceremony and laid 36 wreaths on veterans' graves.  This year individuals and organizations have ordered close to three hundred wreaths for us and the number is growing daily.   Volunteers have been working hard reading obituaries to identify where our veterans are buried, their branch of service, and when they served.

 

Your support, even if you only purchase one wreath, will help us make the statement that our community cares about its veterans, and remembers them at times other than holidays. Your wreath(s) will be sent to Riverside Cemetery.  You can purchase wreaths in honor or memory of someone and you can let us know if you want a wreath placed on a certain individual's grave.   Please make your purchase by December 1 so that the wreaths ordered can be shipped here in time for the ceremony.  

 

We would also love for you to mark your calendars for December 13, 2014, at 12:00 Noon, to join us for the momentous event.  We will have a brief ceremony in front of the Gatehouse, followed by the actual laying of the wreaths.

   

Suzanne Minarcine

Board Chair, Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy  

 

Peggy Winters Thompson

Chair of Wreaths Across America Committee