Wreath-laying ceremony to honor fallen heroes

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by ME businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992.

After his remarks, Hutchinson and Walter Prouty of North Little Rock, chairman of the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery’s Wreaths Across America Committee, placed a wreath at the Medal of Honor Memorial on the Capitol grounds.

Saturday’s ceremonies in Mahwah and Ramsey start at noon, and will feature the ceremonial laying of seven wreaths: one for each branch of the military and one for POWs and MIAs.

Wreaths Across America is a charity movement that places holiday wreaths on the markers at Arlington in order to remember the sacrifices of America’s military heroes. The day is the same as Wreaths Across America’s ceremony in Arlington. The goal is to someday place a wreath for every veteran interned in the cemetery.

The wreaths leaving Wednesday are headed to Mississippi, Louisiana, and will end up at the National Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Papastathis said she believes the service is important because veterans and their families need to be honored.

Tinnin will haul the remaining wreaths to the American Legion in Benton where they will later be taken to Old Benton Cemetery, St. Denis Cemetery, Lightner Cemetery, St. Lawrence Church, and St. Joseph Cemetery.

Volunteers with Wreaths Across America lay hundreds of thousands of wreaths nationwide each year at gravestones and memorials for those who serve.

While Johnson said there has been more interest shown locally this year, she can always use more volunteers to lay the wreaths.

Wendrychowicz, whose youngest son is a Marine who served in Iraq, hopes Saturday’s event is repeated for years to come.

“The theme this year is to tell a story, and it means to read the graves that you’re putting the wreaths on and go learn about that person”.