-- Contributed
About 60 volunteers braved the winter cold on Dec. 19 to lay wreaths on the graves of veterans at the New Cumberland Cemetery. The ceremony, sponsored by the New Cumberland Garden Club, is part of the national Wreaths Across America Day that is celebrated every year in December. Local donors purchased 391 wreaths that were placed on the graves of those who have served our country. This tradition was carried out in more than 5,000 cemeteries across the country this year, including several others in the area. The garden club expressed appreciation to all those who purchased the wreaths to honor veterans and reminds anyone interested in purchasing a wreath for the ceremony next year that all wreaths are buy-one, get-one-free through Jan. 15. “By remembering our veterans, we are carrying out the motto of Wreaths Across America, which is ‘Remember, Honor, Teach,'” explained George Hines, garden club member and local WAA coordinator. Hines said the club also was thankful for the participation of Rick Greenwood and the New Cumberland Boy Scout Troop. “Our goal for next year is to have enough wreaths to cover the graves of the nearly 500 veterans who are buried in the New Cumberland Cemetery,” Hines said. Shown are, from left, Sara Hawkins, garden club treasurer; Hines; his wife, Milli Hines, garden club president; Greenwood, New Cumberland Scoutmaster; and Will White, New Cumberland Cemetery board member.