Wreaths Across America coming to Vincennes

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Three Vincennes community service clubs – Civitan, Kiwanis, and Rotary – are joing forces to bring the Wreaths Across America program to Vincennes later this year. The goal of the Vincennes service clubs is to place a wreath at the graves of all veterans buried in the Vincennes City Cemeteries.

Wreaths Across America , the organization that lays wreaths at the graves of fallen veterans, saw the placement of 1.2 Million remembrance wreaths at over 1200 cemeteries across the country in December of 2016. 25 years ago this past December, a wreath-maker from Maine had 5000 extra wreaths, but rather than see them go to waste, he gave the wreaths to volunteers to place at the graves of service men and women in Arlington National Cemetery as a gift of thanks for their sacrifice. What started as 5000 wreaths has grown to 245,000 wreaths at Arlington alone, with over 44,000 volunteers showing up last December to distribute after a special program on December 17th. Morrill Worcester, the wreath maker, could never have foreseen, 25 years ago, how this simple gesture would ignite a passion in the hearts and souls of millions of Americas many years later.

Now, Civitan, Kiwanis, and Rotary are joining together to bring the program to Vincennes as part of a national distribution day on Saturday, December 16th. Wreaths are $15 each and can be purchased by individuals or businesses. Individuals are welcome to attend the program on December 16th, then

take their wreaths for personal placement at the graves of their friends and relatives. The Community services joint committee is also seeking donations from area businesses so that remaining grave sites of veterans will also have a remembrance wreath during the Holidays. Volunteers are also being sought to help distribute wreaths that day.

Sponsorship forms are available at various locatons in Vincennes. Individuals and businesses wanting to donate or get more information can contact Krystle Russell at 812-698-2785 or email civicclubsofknoxcounty@gmail.com. Find the group on Facebook at Wreaths Across America-Wreaths for Vincennes.