Volunteers sought to help honor veterans
The local organizers of Wreaths Across America are seeking volunteers and donors in Berks County to help as they attempt to lay wreaths on the graves of every veteran.
Wreaths Across America day takes place nationally on Dec. 18, and its goal is to honor veterans who have passed away and to teach children the value and price of freedom, organizers say.
Locally the wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery and a number of Berks County cemeteries.
“It’s important, especially right now, that we remember those who have gone before us and fought for our freedoms and to uphold the principals and values this country was founded on,” said Beth Sattizahn of Robesonia, volunteer chairperson and location leader for the program at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Lebanon County.
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit and non-political project, and one that brings people together at a time when the nation needs that unity, she said.
It also teaches young people the sacrifices many have made for their country, she said.
But laying all those wreaths takes a lot of work and a lot of money, so help and donations are needed, she said.
There are 55,000 Veterans interred at Indiantown Gap, and with current donations only about 13,000 veterans will be remembered with a live balsam wreath, but there is still time to change that, she said.
She said there are several ways to participate said:
• Go to wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/159333/ Overview/?relatedId=17107, scroll down and select Sponsor Wreaths. To sponsor a grave specific wreath, whether we place it for you, or you wish to place it, click on the grave specific circle icon. Corporate sponsors are welcome.
• Mail a check, payable to Wreaths Across America, to Friends of WAA-IGNC, PO Box 51, Robesonia PA 19551. Include the number of wreaths you wish to sponsor, a contact phone or email, and any grave specific information, if applicable.
• Call Wreaths Across America headquarters at 1-877-3859504 and specify PA0407 as the Group ID.
• Questions can be emailed to info@waa-ignc.org.
The deadline to sponsor wreaths is Dec. 1.
To find out which local cemeteries are participating, go to wreathsacrossamerica.org, call 1-877-385-9504 or email Sattizahn at beth@waa-ignc.org.
The ceremony at Indiantown Gap will be shown on facebook. com/WAAIGNCPA and wreathsacrossamerica.org/PAIGNA starting at noon and will last about an hour. The laying of the wreaths will begin immediately following the ceremony, with thousands of volunteers expected to pitch in. As the volunteers place the wreaths, every veteran’s name is said aloud.
Though the deadline for youth groups to register is Friday, organizers will try to include those who are interested and apply within the next few days, officials said. Those groups can register by emailing waaindiantowngap@yahoo.com.
Similar events will take place at more than 2,700 locations nationwide.