The annual Wreaths Across America tradition of laying wreaths at the headstones of fallen veterans will take place Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

Wreath-laying will take place follow a ceremony, which will begin at 11 a.m. that day at the flagpole. Per cemetery officials, parking is off-site due to the large number in attendance for the event/volunteering. Buses will be transporting people into the ceremony and from the ceremony up to the newest sections (20/28) on the hill. They will also transport you back to your vehicle after.

The new parking location for the general public is at Partner’s Warehouse, 21051 Walter Strawn Drive, Elwood. Buses will pick up at one location in the lot; not drive around to cars picking people up.

Parking for handicapped individuals will be behind the Administration Building at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Complex, 20953 W. Hoff Road, Elwood. Be sure your placard is visible. Buses will pick you up from this lot.

Wreath Guards will be onsite to help following the ceremony. They will be distributing grave-specific forms at each section for that section and distributing wreaths.

Family/Friends (placing a single wreath yourself) — Go to that section and give the Wreath Guard the name of your Veteran/Spouse. They will distribute wreaths to you.

Family/Friends/Groups (with multiple wreaths sponsored) — Go to the tent to the right of the flag pole/ceremony. They will have your forms. Take them, go to your sections, and speak to the Wreath Guards. They will distribute wreaths to you.

Volunteers helping to lay wreaths — Go to a section and speak to the Wreath Guard. They will have forms for grave-specific of those who are not able attend and lay their own. Those will need done BEFORE the Any Veteran wreaths are done. Remember, there are some friends/family laying grave specific wreaths at multiple graves across the cemetery.

Many of our veterans gave it all; some in more ways than we can ever know. Take your time when placing a wreath — Say their name. Acknowledge their service. What would you want someone to do when visiting your loved one’s resting place?

After the ceremony and wreath-laying there will be a luncheon, raffles, and ornaments for sale (funds raised will go toward purchasing wreaths for next year). It takes place at Stone City VFW, located at 124 Stone City Drive, Joliet.

Last year, sponsors made it possible to decorate 36,000 graves with wreaths. WAA officials hope to someday lay a wreath for each veteran buried there. Many groups also sponsor wreaths, and volunteer to decorate the grave sites each year.

Will County Farm Bureau members, organized by longtime member Debbie Werner, had collection nearly $22,000 toward the wreaths by early December.

The wreaths are trucked in by several semi, and unloaded to trailers provided by local livestock farmers, led by Farm Bureau Manager Mark Schneidewind and Manhattan farmer Dave Kestel.

They keep them on their farms until the morning of the event, and proceed in a procession led by the Will County Sheriff’s Department. They are unloaded and separated for distribution at the different sections.

All this to honor the mission of Wreaths Across America: Remember – Honor – Teach
Remember – We do this to remember those who have passed.
Honor – We do this to honor their sacrifices, service, and memory.
Teach – We do this to teach the next generation the value of freedom.