MOULTRIE, Ga. — Moultrie’s John Benning chapter of the DAR has joined with Wreaths Across America (WAA) to host a wreath-laying ceremony at the veterans’ cemetery at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens, joining more than 1,200 other locations across the country.  This annual event seeks to further the WAA mission of “Remember, Honor, Teach,” ensuring that the memory of those who served our country endures.  This is the first year that John Benning DAR and Pinecrest will participate in this national event.

According Susan Turner, DAR Service to Veterans chair, DAR hopes to raise enough money to place wreaths on the 24 headstones of fallen service members at the veterans cemetery located on South Main Street in Moultrie. The fresh evergreen wreaths are shipped from Columbia Falls, Maine, WAA headquarters. The wreath-laying ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15.

The DAR is asking individuals and businesses to sponsor wreaths for $15 each. Sponsorships can be placed with any DAR member or by contacting Turner at (229) 985-1333 or Nancy Coleman at (229) 941-2930. Sponsorship forms are also available at First Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church. The group will also be accepting sponsorships for wreaths at Lights! Lights! on Thanksgiving night. The deadline for sponsoring wreaths is Nov. 28.

In addition to laying wreaths on the headstones of veterans, service wreaths will also be placed for each branch of service. Family members of veterans buried the veterans section at Pinecrest are asked to contact the DAR about participating in the wreath laying ceremony.  

Wreaths may be sponsored for placement on veterans’ graves at other cemeteries but the donor must pick up the wreath after the ceremony on Dec. 15 and is responsible for placing the        wreath.  

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony started in 1992 at Arlington National Cemetery by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester.