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Poland honors veterans with wreath ceremony
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Veterans and Boy Scouts help place wreaths on their stands during the Wreaths Across America event at the Poland Cemetery on Dec. 12.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One boyscout carries a wreath provided by Wreaths Across America to place on the grave of a .veteran at the Poland Cemetary.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.All seven wreaths placed on their stands with flags each representing different meanings in the military.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One woman places a wreath on it's stand in honor of the soldiers who are missing in action.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
The Poland Cemetery hosted a Wreath Ceremony on Dec. 12 for the Wreaths Across America event. The event was hosted by the Poland Village Hine Fund.
The ceremony started in the morning with boy scouts, veterans, family and active military placing seven wreaths each on a stand. Each wreath represented something different about the military and the soldiers.
Wreaths Across America provided other wreaths for family members and friends to place on the gravestones of those who had fought for the United States. Wreaths Across America started about 25 years ago, and on Dec. 12 alone will visit close to 1,000 cemeteries across the United States to perform the Wreath Ceremony.
Hugh Earnhardt, a Navy Veteran and master of ceremonies for Wreaths Across America, spoke during the ceremony and explained what each wreath represented and what the ceremony was all about.
“We move around doing this hoping that when we’re all done, somebody in the community will think it’s a good idea and try to do it every year,” said Earnhardt.
The wreaths and other items are supplied through donations and fund raising. Hosting a Wreath Ceremony is free for the community and brings awareness to veterans during the holiday season.
Hot chocolate, cider and snacks were provided for guests after the ceremony finished.
Wreaths Across America has been around for several years and hopes the tradition will continue. They hope that communities all over will pick up the idea and make it a tradition of their own.