The national observance of Wreaths Across America on Saturday, Dec. 17, will include the placement of balsam wreaths in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West on Fort Campbell Boulevard.
Every year in December, the organization provides wreaths for veterans’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and at hundreds of other sites in all 50 states.
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Wreaths will be placed at the Hopkinsville cemetery beginning at 11 a.m., and volunteers are needed to complete the work. Following a ceremony, members of the community and the Christian County Military Affairs Committee will help place the wreaths on graves.
Those who have a loved one at the cemetery may place a wreath in advance, starting at 7 a.m., local organizers said on Facebook.
“We understand we have Veterans Day in the fall and Memorial Day in the spring, but our service members sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year to preserve our freedom,” Wreaths Across America describes on its website. “In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We hope you will join us at any of our more than 3,400 participating locations to show our veterans and their families that we will not forget.”
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.
