This weekend, the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton will host ‘Wreaths Across America’, a service where fallen hero’s will be honored and remembered by families, friends, and community with the laying of wreaths this Christmas season.
Set to take place on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Memorial Cemetery located at 248 Honor Circle in Newton, the event is jointly sponsored by The Friends of Mississippi Veterans and Mississippi Veterans Affairs.
Wreaths Across America is a national event taking place this Saturday in cemeteries across the country. The event began in 1992 when a surplus of wreaths was donated to an older section of Arlington National Cemetery that was receiving fewer visitors. Continuing through the years, the private event received national attention in 2005 and cemeteries across the country soon began honoring veterans with the placing of wreaths in December.
The Mission of Wreaths Across America is simple: Remember. Honor. Teach. Remember and honor those veterans who served the country, and teach future generations.
Bill Freeman, Vice Chairman of the Friends of Mississippi Veterans organization, said that their organization raises funds to purchase the wreaths placed at the Veterans Memorial Cemeteries in Newton and in Kilmichael every year through donations and fundraisers. Freeman, from Newton, invites the community to come out and help honor those that that gave the ultimate sacrifice in serving the nation.
“We’ll have a brief ceremony, about thirty minutes or so, and then we’ll begin laying wreaths on the graves, which numbers just over 1,800,” said Freeman. “Family members will first have the honor of laying wreaths in the memory of their loved ones, and then those in attendance that would like to help in honoring our veterans with laying wreaths are welcomed to do so.”
Guest speaker for Saturday’s event will be Brigadier General Tommy F. Tillman, Jr., who serves at the Chief of Staff of the Mississippi Air National Guard and additionally serves jointly as the Assistant Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard.
Also sharing brief messages that day will be Mississippi Veterans Affairs Executive Director Mark Smith and Friends of Mississippi Veterans Chairman Jack Winstead.
