wreaths on graves
Wreaths on graves | Photo courtesy Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America laid over 10,000 live evergreen wreaths on graves at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville. With over 700 volunteers and attendees, this was the largest Wreaths Across America ever at Camp Nelson, more than doubling the number of wreaths that were laid last year.

All ceremony participants were Kentuckians, including many military veterans. An honorary wreath squad placed ceremonial wreaths for each military service plus the U.S. Merchant Marine, POW/MIA, and U.S. war dead buried overseas. Marlana VanHoose sang the national anthem and Eagle Scout Brayden Mefford let the pledge of allegiance. University of Kentucky ROTC provided the color guard. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the 7th KY US Volunteer Infantry, and cadets from Henry Clay High School, Jessamine County High School, and the Kentucky Division, US Naval Sea Cadets assisted in the ceremony and laying of wreaths.

Camp Nelson was one of 2,158 locations participating in WAA across the country, honoring veterans with 2.2 million wreaths.

A cadets from Henry Clay High School laying a wreath | Photo courtesy Wreaths Across America
A cadet from Henry Clay High School laying a wreath | Photo courtesy Wreaths Across America

This annual event seeks to further the WAA mission of Remember, Honor, Teach, ensuring that the memory of those who served our country endures. Next year, WAA Day will be Saturday, December 12, 2020.

All wreaths come from donations through the Wreaths Across America for Camp Nelson website, www.WreathsCampNelson.org. Further donations may be made at any time and will go toward the 2020 ceremony.

 

 

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