Col. David Love Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has joined with Wreaths Across America to honor veterans buried in Oakland Cemetery.
The goal is to provide 300 wreaths in the cemetery. The national effort for Wreaths Across America began in 1992 when Worcester Wreath in Maine had extra wreaths near the end of their holiday season.
Aided by Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, the extra wreaths were placed in an older section of Arlington National Cemetery where visitors seldom came and continued quietly until 2005 when an internet picture of the wreaths in the snow was posted. From that simple gesture to remember veterans, Wreaths Across America has grown to over 3400 locations across the United States, at sea, and abroad. The effort to educate and remember is now shared through Remember, Honor, and Teach project of Wreaths Across America. Materials for schools and veterans' stories are located on the website www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Wreaths will be laid on veterans' grave-sites at Oakland Cemetery at 11 a.m., Saturday December 17. More information will be provided closer to the Day of Remembrance. Volunteers are needed to place wreaths on veterans' graves and say each veteran's name as the wreath is placed in honor and memory.
Civic groups, school groups, and individuals are welcome to come that morning to participate in this memorial service. Wreaths may be ordered until November 29 for $15 each. Specific requests may be made for a specific veteran at Oakland Cemetery or a wreath ordered to honor any veteran. Orders after November 29 will be placed in 2023. Oakland Cemetery wreaths may be ordered at https://wreathsacrossamerica.org//pages/171057.
The code for the COL David Love Chapter, DAR, is: AR0074P.
If you need additional information, or to volunteer, please contact Louisa Smith 870-723-3560 or Sandy Funderburg 870-723-4945.
