Wreaths across America Dec. 18
Oak Ridge Memorial Park is once again taking part in Wreaths Across America at noon on Dec. 18.
Again this year the Oak Ridge High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps are selling the wreaths that will be placed on the graves of veterans. A change this year is that the local AmVets has purchased wreath stands that the JROTC will place on veterans’ graves before the event. This will allow the wreaths to stand up at the grave sites instead of laying flat on the ground, according to information provided to the newspaper.
On Dec. 18, there will be a program in the Garden of Valor at Oak RIdge Memorial Park with the laying of a wreath for each branch of the service, the playing of taps, and an honor guard. Following the program, JROTC members and volunteers will lay the wreaths.
All organizations involved in this event are non-profit, including Oak Ridge Memorial Park. For more information or to volunteer, go to https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/163512.
Oak Ridge Memorial Park is at Oak Ridge Memorial Park (TNORMP), 1501 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. The goal is to cover all 1,100 veteran graves.
American Legion events
The Anderson County American Legion Post No. 172, which serves Anderson County and the communities of Andersonville, Clinton, Norris, Oak Ridge, and Rocky Top, will have a fundraising event at 351 Market Street, Clinton prior to the start of the Veterans' Day Parade in Clinton at 6 p.m. Nov. 11, as well as at the Food City stores in Clinton and Oak Ridge on Nov. 20 and Dec. 4.
The goal of the Post fundraising events are two-fold in purpose: to raise funds for ongoing programs for veterans, veteran families, youth, and projects for community enrichment; and to raise awareness of the Wreaths Across America program, as solicitation of the wreaths sponsorship for the local cemetery.
"Members of American Legion Post No. 172 work throughout the year with projects and services that better the community, provided by funds of community fundraising events; and being a 501(c)19 organization donations are tax-deductible," a news release stated.
Groups of local volunteers are working to ensure that all veterans at the Oak Ridge Memorial Park are honored this December on National Wreaths Across America Day. You can sponsor a wreath for $15 at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TN0308P. Each sponsorship goes toward a fresh balsam veteran’s wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Wreaths across America Dec. 18
