Wreaths to adorn graves in veterans cemetery
Published on -12/9/2009, 12:34 PM
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By GAYLE WEBER
WaKEENEY -- Nearly 150 wreaths will adorn the graves of Kansas veterans Saturday during the fourth annual Wreaths Across America event at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery.
Seven large wreaths will be placed in the cemetery to represent each branch of military service. Then, smaller wreaths will be placed on each Kansas veteran's grave by family members or members of the American Legion Riders, according to cemetery manager Heidi Goff.
"It's really a beautiful site to see the family members come up one by one and take a wreath," Goff said.
More than 400 veterans' cemeteries are participating in the nationwide event, and more than 100,000 wreaths will be placed on graves across the country.
The wreaths will be left at the cemeteries through January, Goff said. Worcester Wreath Co. donates many of the wreaths each year and Goff said the Kansas Veterans Cemetery has collected donations to be able to provide a wreath for each veteran.
The wreath service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in WaKeeney with a short program followed by the laying of the wreaths.
