National Wreaths Across America Day to honor vets

Individuals will gather this month to honor veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day. The nationwide event, which aims to place a wreath on the graves of all war veterans, is set for Dec. 17. 

In coordination with the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, there are more than 1,100 participating locations across the United States, including several in the greater Birmingham area.

Jefferson Memorial Gardens at 2701 John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover is one of 14 participating cemeteries in the state of Alabama, and it will have a memorial service before its wreath-laying ceremony Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. 

The ceremony will take place in the Field of Honor near the back of the cemetery, and volunteers will place wreaths on the 650 veterans’ graves.

National Wreaths Across America Day started in 1992 when Morrill Worcester’s wreath company gave a surplus of 5,000 wreaths for veterans’ graves at Arlington. Over the years, it has expanded, and in 2007, Wreaths Across America was formed as a nonprofit. 

Wreaths Across America Executive Director Karen Worcester said the purpose of the event is “not to decorate graves. We’re here to remember not their deaths, but their lives.”

Volunteers who place wreaths on graves are encouraged to say the veterans’ names aloud and take a moment to thank them for their service to our country to keep their memories alive. 

Local groups coordinate the efforts across the country. In Hoover, the event is sponsored by the Alabama Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers. The organization is made up of local mothers who have lost children in military action.

Marynell Winslow, whose son died in Iraq, has been a part of this effort since 2009. She is the president of the American Gold Star Mothers for the state of Alabama and also the local coordinator for the Hoover site where her son is buried. 

“The program has built up the past few years, and donations from local businesses have allowed us to place a wreath on every veteran’s gravesite,” Winslow said. “Last year we had about 50 volunteers.”

The wreaths are $15, and $5 of that goes to the American Gold Star Mothers. They use the money to help locally. 

Some of their efforts include putting a bench in the American Village in Montevallo along with a monument at the National Cemetery in Montevallo. They also had an air conditioner installed at the Veteran’s Center in Homewood. 

“Anyone who wants to help purchase a wreath or provide any support is appreciated,” Winslow said. “There are around 650 graves to cover at Jefferson Memorial.”

Winslow said local company McLeod Software has made donations for this event the last several years. 

“We are happy to receive corporate donations, as well as from individuals,” she said.

To volunteer to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony or to donate to the local fundraising group, select their local cemetery at wreathsacrossamerica.org.