Ceremony canceled, but volunteers sought for Wreaths Across America
Since its opening in 2006, Sacramento Valley National Cemetery has been one of more than a thousand military cemeteries throughout the country to participate in Wreaths Across America, an event where wreaths are laid on the gravestones of veterans to honor their service and bring some festive spirit to their resting sites.
This year, the formal ceremony preceding the wreath-laying will not be held due to COVID-19 restrictions, but volunteers will still be able to lay the wreaths Dec. 12.
The cemetery is seeking volunteers to assist with scheduled placements starting at 8 a.m. and continuing throughout the day until all wreaths have been placed. Masks are required, and large volunteer groups are asked to carpool. Plans will be in place to allow for social distancing. Signups in advance are not required. All ages are welcome to take part.
Adult and teen volunteers are also being sought to help unload trucks the day before starting at 3 p.m. Anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to send a text message to 249-5852.
Finally, volunteers will be needed to pick up wreaths for on-site disposal at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 16. Poles or dowels may be required, and volunteers may need to work in pairs to string wreaths on the poles or dowels to ensure easier pickup before they are hauled to the curb and loaded into garbage trucks.
Families and friends who want an earlier, more private placement may do so at a variety of dates and locations, starting Saturday. Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the cemetery will be hosting a drive-thru pickup for the weekend only.
Wreaths may also be picked up between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 7 to 11 at Grow West, 8571 Pedrick Road, Dixon; and between 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 7 to 11 at Stocking Real Estate, 7 E. Main St., Suite D, Winters.
Wreaths may be privately placed any time before the day of the event. For more information, call or text 249-5852.
The cemetery is located at 5810 Midway Road, Dixon. For additonal information, email wreathproject@yahoo.com or visit freewebs.com/wreathproject/.
Wreaths Across America originated in 1992 with the placing of wreaths on gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery and remained an annual occurrence at the cemetery for the next decade. When a photo of graves decorated with wreaths began being circulated on the internet in 2005, other military cemeteries followed suit. In 2008, Congress officially recognized “Wreaths Across America Day,” and now more than 1,200 military cemeteries in all 50 states participate each year, usually the second or third Saturday in December.
This year, two other military cemeteries in Solano County will be taking part for the first time: the Benicia Arenal Post Cemetery and the Mare Island Naval Cemetery in Vallejo.