Posted on 12/13/2006 2:17:14 PM PST by NerdDad
JACKSON - National cemeteries in Biloxi, Natchez and Corinth will participate Dec. 14 in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor veterans nationwide.
The event is spearheaded by a Maine company and promoted by various veterans organizations, including Mississippi members of the Patriot Guard Riders.
"Wreaths Across America" was started by Morrill Worcester, owner of Maine's largest wreath company. Annually, Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, sends 5,000 wreaths to be placed on gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery.
This year, Worcester is donating 8,000 wreaths for ceremonies at nearly 230 veterans cemeteries and monuments in every state and Puerto Rico.
The ceremonies are to be held simultaneously on Dec. 14 at noon EST. The ceremonies will be at 11 a.m. at the three cemeteries in Mississippi.
Joining in the observances will be the Civil Air Patrol, the Patriot Guard Riders, National Committee of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Daughters of the American Revolution, Boy Scouts and other civic groups.
What a wonderful thing to do.
BTTT
Mississippi and PGR ping.
Anyone who wishes to travel up to Corinth from Columbus and/or Tupelo is welcome to ride up with us. FReepmail me if you want travel information.
The Patriot Guard Riders will be present but it looks as though it will be a small group. Please consider joining us to honor our fallen heroes.
If you can make it, look for the fat guy in the FReeper cap.
Hey Onyx
This is happening right in yours and WKB's yard. Make it over to the Natchez National Cemetery tomorrow and join the event. It's only about a half hour long. If you make it, seek out a Patriot Guard Rider member named TROG. He rides a Harley trike and will be the ride captain for the mission. Tall, lanky, bearded. You'd never guess he's an alpha-geek. Give him a hug and greetings from CDBear and me.
Hi ya, Nerd Dad,
I would seriously think about going to Natchez tomorrow , were we not sick and I mean "sick." CA wimps are not faring well in cold weather. We were sick last year at this time too. I am sort of surprised there's no mention of Vicksburg doing this, given its military significance.
Mississsippi members of the Patriot Guard Riders who are signed in to the PGR forum may read mission info here:
http://www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/forumid/91/postid/286364/view/topic/Default.aspx
I was surprised by Vickburg's absence as well. Not to mention that there is nothing planned for the Friendship National Cemetery here in Columbus.
I wonder if their relationship to the "recent unpleasantness" has anything to do with their omission?
"The recent unpleasantness" is my guess too. I sure wish we were able to go to Natchez tomorrow. I have become quite enchanted with the town. Wish now, that we'd have checked it out first.
I'm gonna be sucking up some of your air tomorrow. Come on over to the cemetery and join us.
"I sure wish we were able to go to Natchez tomorrow. I have become quite enchanted with the town."
Nat-cheese (what we called it as kids)is my home town. Spent a fair amount of time in that cemetery.
I like Natchez. A lot.
Because Christmas wreaths are normally laid closer to Chrismas than Veterans' Day or Memorial Day?
It's more of a staffing and budgetary problem. It is all we can do to put out 17,000 flags every memorial day, and that is with just about every park employee coming in on their day off. We almost never have more than a handful civilian volunteers show up. :(
Thank you for telling me! I'd LOVE to volunteer for this coming Memorial Day!
Oddly enough I was a member of the Civil Air Patrol for many years and now I'm a PGR member as well. Who would have believed the two would somehow come together? Too bad that is the opposite site of the country for me or I would have loved to participate...
~ Blue Jays ~
Hey -- they are laying wreaths at ALL National Cemetery's tomorrow at 12pm ET -- so here in MO it's at 11AM, and so on. If there's a Nat'l Cemetery in your area, they're probably there too!! :-)
Many decades ago, Boy Scouts used to put out the flags at our local National Cemetary. Perhaps they are too politically incorrect to be allowed on federal land.
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