Wreaths Across America

On Saturday, Dec. 16, at 11:30 a.m. at Sunset Memory Gardens in Graniteville, a special ceremony honoring our veterans will be held with the placement of individual wreaths on the graves of veterans to remember our fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve and teach our children the value of freedom.The public is cordially invited.

In 2013, Anthony Venetz brought to the Aiken community the nationwide established Wreaths Across America program. On Dec. 16, national Wreaths Across America Day, Aiken's primary local location for the ceremony will be Sunset Memory Gardens on Jefferson Davis Highway. After the ceremony, the public is invited to place a wreath on veterans' graves. An additional wreath placement will be at Pineview Memorial Gardens, 450 West Five Notch Road, North Augusta. This ceremony will start at approximately 3 p.m.

Last year, more than 1,000 wreaths were placed in Aiken County and more than one million wreaths were placed at more than 1,000 cemeteries nationwide. Wreaths Across America dates back to 2007 as a continuation of the Arlington Wreath Project and has since become a tradition. December is the designated month to place the wreaths at the graves at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at veterans' cemeteries in all 50 states and beyond.

The mission for Wreaths Across America is:

REMEMBER – our fallen U.S. Veterans

HONOR – those who serve

TEACH - your children the value of freedom