National Wreaths Across America Day to be Held from Gardiner to Forks on Saturday, December 16, 2023
Published 1:30 am Thursday, December 14, 2023
Mount Angeles Memorial Park Cemetery, an official Wreaths Across America (WAA) location, will host a wreath-laying public ceremony, joining more than 3,700 other locations across the country for National Wreaths Across America Day.
Coordinated and led by Michael Trebert DAR 501 (c)(3), and sponsorship groups (Dungeness Composite Civil Air Patrol and Port Angeles High School NJROTC) have raised funds throughout the year to sponsor the placement of 2411 veterans’ wreaths at 14 locations from Gardiner Community Cemetery to Forks Cemetery. The 20” Port Angeles ceremony includes Dungeness Composite Civil Air Patrol presenting flags, 8 ceremonial service branch wreaths being placed by Veterans themselves for each branch of the military plus POW/MIA, “Jr. American Eagle” children, Riderless Horse Salute, Taps, and Bagpipes.
Balsam wreaths from the State of Maine will be placed on the headstones of our local fallen service members laid to rest at 14 locations. The Michael Trebert DAR Chapter has been cleaning and preserving Veteran markers throughout the summer in preparation. This is the 4th year of Wreaths Across America on the peninsula. While Veterans are often remembered at Memorial Day and Veterans Day, they are often forgotten during the holidays. After a remembrance wreath is placed by the public, the Veteran’s name is said out loud and thanked for their service. Wreaths
Across America reminds the public that a person dies twice, once when they take their last breath, and second when their name is spoken for the last time.
This annual event seeks to further the yearling mission to Remember the fallen, Honor those serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom, ensuring that the memory of those who served our country endures.
TWO public ceremonies in Clallam County on National Wreaths Day, Saturday, December 16, 2023
11 a.m. Mount Angeles Memorial Park, Port Angeles
2 p.m. Forks Cemetery
Wreath Laying times and locations:
9 a.m. Blue Mountain Cemetery, Port Angles
11 a.m. Dungeness Cemetery, Sequim
11:30 a.m. Mount Angeles Memorial Park, Port Angeles
1 p.m. Gardiner Community Cemetery, Gardiner
1 p.m. Sequim View Cemetery, Sequim
2 p.m. Forks Cemetery, Forks
About Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s yearlong mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at more than 3,700 veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and overseas.
Local Volunteer Location Contact:
Judy Tordini, Regent Michael Trebert DAR & Clallam County Wreaths Across America Location Coordinator
360-460-2346
jktretiredrn@gmail.com
