WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — UPDATE 11/29: Hours after our story aired, we learned the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies met and exceeded its 2022 goal!
This year’s wreath-laying ceremony is Saturday, Dec. 17.
And we’ve just learned of another local cemetery struggling to meet its goal.
The Indiantown Gap National Cemetary still needs sponsors for more than 10,000 wreaths. The wreaths are $15 each.
if you’re interested in sponsoring a wreath, you have until midnight to make a donation:
Click here for more information.
Initial Coverage:
Honoring our veterans during the holiday season has become a tradition at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. But less than three weeks until this year’s Wreaths Across America ceremony in Washington County, not all of the wreaths have been spoken for. Without the public’s help, some of the headstones might not be adorned with a wreath this year, as organizers are putting out a call to action for sponsorships.
“This is the first time in 10 years that we have not met the goal of 100% wreaths [by this point],” said volunteer Lori Byrge.
For Byrge and her family, the National Cemetery is special. It’s the final resting place for some of their loved ones. Byrge’s daughter, Sgt. Rachel Byrge, is an active-duty member of the National Guard.
“I brought my daughter out here. She was deployed in 2020, so she was able to come out here, and she actually saluted her grandfather who passed away when she was deployed,” Byrge said.
Their family plans to attend this year’s wreath laying ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 17 at noon, when dozens of volunteers will honor the thousands of soldiers from the region who have served our nation, saying the names etched on each individual stone. The cost to sponsor a wreath is $15.
Byrge said she’ll do whatever it takes to help preserve this tradition of paying tribute to our local heroes and the sacrifices they’ve made.
“So many of these soldiers gave their life for what we have today. Some of them, don’t have family members, so to be able to honor, remember, and teach our past and present is awesome,” Byrge said.
To sponsor a wreath, volunteer, or donate to the event, click here to visit the Wreaths Across America PANCAB website.
The deadline to donate is Tuesday, Nov. 29.
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