Wreaths Across America Day

ZANESVILLE, OH- The Zanesville community and local Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (J.R.O.T.C.) came together today at Greenwood Cemetery to celebrate Wreaths Across America.

The purpose of the holiday is to remember those who serve and teach the next generation about the value of freedom.

“Wreaths Across America started in 1992 in Arlington National Cemetary, and over the years it has evolved into what it is today, today we joined over 4,200 locations across the United States at sea and abroad at 12 o’ clock noon, all the services began simultaneously and joined all of those across the country, there are over 2 million volunteers that make this day possible, and there’s a lot of local people here,” said Brad McCune, the Location Coordinator for Wreath Across America in Zanesville.

This year the Zanesville Highschool J.R.O.T.C. members sold a record number of 516 wreaths.

“This is just a special time of the year, and as the service says, we’re not decorating graves, we’re remembering lives, and remembering them by placing that wreath on their grave, and it’s been said that a person dies twice, the first time the physical death, and the second time is the last time their name is ever spoken publicly, and so through this service and what the community is doing here, we’re working hard to keep the lives of the veterans and all of those who have provided the freedoms and the way that we enjoy life today and keeping their memories alive, “said McCune.

If you would like to get more involved next year, visit the Wreaths Across America’s website and search for Greenwood Cemetery to learn more.