For the first time, Wreaths Across America, an organization dedicated to honoring deceased veterans, will be coming to Howell County.
With the coordinated efforts of members of the Ozark Spring chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the city of Mountain View, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3009 of Mtn. View, Wreaths Across America Day will be held at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1019 E. Third St. in Mtn. View, to “Remember and Honor” the 187 veterans who are buried there along with a few veterans’ spouses.
The wreaths will be escorted from VFW Post 3009 to the cemetery by the Mtn. View Police and Fire Departments. Upon arrival at 10:30 a.m., family members present will be given an opportunity to proceed to their loved ones’ graves, where a wreath and red ribbon will be presented for them to place. These wreaths are not for decoration, they are placed by volunteers on the same day all across America in order to “Remember – Honor – Teach,” organizers explained.
At about 10:40 a.m., volunteers will line up and be assigned a wreath and red ribbon to continue placing wreaths on each remaining gravesite. As each wreath is placed, the veteran’s name will be said aloud, and the veteran will thanked for their service to the country. Following placement of wreaths, at 11 a.m., at the same time as the local ceremony, Wreath Across America will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, U.S. Army, Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
The Mtn. View veterans’ ceremony is standing only; therefore, the public is welcome to bring a lawn chair.
The effort to honor local veterans is ongoing, note members of the DAR, whose volunteers have been selling wreaths for $17 each to raise the money to pay for the 187 veterans graves. To purchase a wreath or make a donation, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/MO0237 or www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/MOVTMC . Donations may be made in any amount and combined with others to complete the purchase of a wreath.
For more information on the qualification of sponsoring a Partnership Wreath for a veteran’s grave in another veteran’s cemetery, to make a special request to designate a wreath sponsorship to a specific grave at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Mtn. View, or to participate as a volunteer, contact, Cindy Pirch at 417-629–4102 or Lois Frazier at 417-257–8215.
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