2018 will mark the 27th anniversary of Worcester Wreath Company donating Maine wreaths to adorn the headstones of our Nation’s veterans at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to wreaths destined for Virginia, Worcester Wreath will again donate ceremonial wreaths to over 1,200 state, national and local cemeteries across the country.
In response to the many voices who wanted to share in the project, the non-profit Wreaths Across America organization was formed to expand the program by offering supporters the opportunity to sponsor a wreath. Our goal is to one day see every veterans grave in the country covered to honor every veteran during the holidays. In 2008 we expanded once again to give even more organizations the chance to help bring our goal to fruition by providing the opportunity to fund raise for their organizations needs along with helping Wreaths Across America gather sponsorships for wreaths.
We would like to continue this tradition by purchasing, through donations, memorial wreaths for those veterans whose final resting place is the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, as well as the Soldiers Home Cemetery, both located at Fort Dodge. Sponsorships are $15 for each wreath. Last year we were able to place wreaths on each grave in the new cemetery and place over 500 wreaths on veteran’s graves in the old cemetery. We thank everyone for their generosity. Our goal this year is to purchase 470 wreaths for the new cemetery and donations received above our goal will be used to purchase wreaths in the old cemetery, which is the final resting area for nearly 1,000 veterans.
Businesses, civic organizations and individuals may send donations of $15 per wreath to Cemetery Manager Heidi Goff’s office at Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at WaKeeney, PO Box 185, WaKeeney, Kansas 67672. Please make checks payable to Wreaths Across America. If you would like to donate a wreath for a specific veteran interred at either cemetery, you may include their name and location with your donation. This is a tax-deductible donation. We ask all donations should be sent no later than Nov. 16 to assure order and delivery by Dec. 15. We forward all donations to Wreaths Across America, while assuring that we keep proper records of donations first. Please do not make checks payable to the cemetery, make them payable to Wreaths Across America.
The laying of wreaths will take place during a special ceremony at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Dodge on Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. The public is invited to join us for our annual wreath-laying ceremony in honor and remembrance of our veterans. If you have any further questions, please contact Heidi Goff, cemetery manager, at 785-743-5685 or [email protected] or Lori Snyder, Fort Dodge administrative assistant, at 620-338-8772 or [email protected].