Members of the Fort Jesup Society Children of the American Revolution helped our community Remember and Honor veterans this holiday season during Wreaths Across America day on December 16th. In just their second year as an official Wreaths Across America Sponsorship group, the Society was able to help six local official WAA locations achieve 100% of their goal to have a wreath sponsored for each veteran laid to rest at St. John Catholic Cemetery, Many Cemetery, Fort Jesup Cemetery, St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, St. Ann Catholic Cemetery and Antioch Baptist Church. These cemeteries were able to achieve this through generous donations from their church family and family members who sponsored wreaths for their loved ones and forgotten veterans.
Location Coordinator Mary Beth Tarver said, “It is so important for us to remember the sacrifices these brave men and women made. I love the mission of Wreaths Across America to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve and Teach the next generation. I feel so fortunate to be able to share with my family and others how they can live the mission too.”
Society members and seniors were responsible for laying wreaths at St. John’s, Many and Fort Jesup cemeteries and hosted an official ceremony at St. John’s. There were over 40 attendees who joined the Society members in honoring these veterans by thanking them and saying their name as they laid a wreath.
“When you sponsor a wreath at one of our locations, you are not decorating a grave; you are honoring the lives of heroes and remembering them for their service and sacrifice,” Tori Flynn, Location Coordinator added.
The Fort Jesup C.A.R. Society works all year to make sure all veterans have the opportunity to be remembered with a wreath. If you would like to sponsor a wreath for a veteran visit https://www. wreathsacrossamerica. org/pages/174065 click the “Sponsor Wreath” button and choose one of our official locations. If your loved one isn’t laid to rest at one of our locations, please contact Fort Jesup C.A.R. at fortjesupcar@gmail. com so we can help. Fort Jesup Society does not make any money from the sponsorship of the wreaths.
Fort Jesup Society President Hannah Flynn, 13, summed up the project by saying, “I’ve never met any of the veterans we remember and honor, but I know it is because of them that I have the freedoms I have today and I am thankful to each of them for that.”
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 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 4,200 additional locations in all 50 states and beyond.