Trish Gardner, Location Coordinator for Wreaths Across America, was a guest speaker at the Kiwanis Club of Clermont meeting.
Trish started her presentation by giving background information on Wreaths Across America.
In 2007, the Worcester family, veterans and others who had helped annually with the Christmas Wreath Ceremony in Arlington, formed a nonprofit organization, Wreaths Across America. This group in addition to laying wreaths on veterans’ graves would continue the Arlington Tradition’s mission to “Remember, Honor and Teach.”
In 2017 many people from the national network of volunteers joined with members of Wreaths Across America and placed over 1,565,000 memorial wreaths at approximately 1,440 locations in the United States and other countries. This activity was made possible because of donations and contributions from corporate groups, trucking, shipping and thousands of helping hands.
On Sunday, December 8, there will be a veterans’ parade from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery and other participating locations, and on Monday, December 9, there will be the State House wreath-laying ceremony in all 50 States and Puerto Rico.
Locally, a Recognition Ceremony is scheduled at Oak Hill Cemetery, off East Avenue, in Clermont on Saturday, December 14. Arrival time is 11:00 am, Placement 11:10 am and Ceremony at 11:35 am. Trish invited everyone to join the Wreath Across America Ceremony.
President Charles Seaver thanked Trish Gardner for her involvement in this worthy project.