Iowa Cemeteries Participate in Wreaths Across America to Honor Veterans
Cemeteries in Iowa are taking part today in Wreaths Across America, an annual effort to honor military veterans by placing wreaths on their graves.
In Sioux City, about 4,500 wreaths are being set at Memorial Park Cemetery. Steve Ponder of Great West Casualty Company is helping lead the local event.
“Each one of these wreaths is representative of an individual who has served in the armed forces,” Ponder said. “The community will come together and we will put these wreaths out.”
Ponder said volunteer trucking companies delivered the wreaths as part of a nationwide effort.
“Memorial Park is just one of 5,000 cemeteries across the country where these wreaths will be laid out to honor the veterans who have sacrificed to defend our freedoms,” he said.
Local American Legion Commander Rene Lapierre said volunteers have also asked residents for help locating specific graves due to snow cover.
“With the snow cover it makes it very difficult for us to identify specific graves,” Lapierre said. “But if they know where he or she is buried, they are a veteran, they can grab a stand, grab a wreath and place it on there.”
The wreaths are made in Maine, and local volunteers raise funds to help pay for them.
Other Iowa locations participating in Wreaths Across America include the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter and Keokuk National Cemetery, along with several additional local cemeteries across the state.
