Dec 4, 2014 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – When a tractor-trailer load of 309 wreaths rolls into the town square of Carmichaels next week, it will be because Carmichaels Women’s Civic Club followed the 2014 Wreaths Across America theme, “Don’t say I should have, say I did.” The same can be said of the driver of the truck who will be donating his time to bring them.

Thanks to the club’s efforts, those 309 wreaths will be placed at Laurel Point Cemetery at noon Dec. 13 during the simultaneous placing of wreaths across the nation and abroad on veteran’s graves for Wreaths Across America.

The WAA program began in 1992 when Morrill Worcester, owner of the Worcester Wreath Co. in Maine, stuck with a surplus of wreaths at the end of the year, decided to honor veterans by sending them to Arlington National Cemetery. It was decided the wreaths would be placed in one of the oldest areas of the cemetery, which received the least number of visitors each year.

When word got out what Worcester was doing, a number of other individuals and organizations stepped up to help. Since 1992, more than 1,000 local fundraising groups in 50 states, representing more than 900 cemeteries, military memorials and other locations, joined in the effort.

In 2005, a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, received national attention. Requests from people all over the country wanting to help with Arlington, or to emulate the Arlington project at their national and state cemeteries, turned WAA into what it is today.

When the Carmichaels club became local sponsors of WAA in 2011, it raised enough funds to place 80 wreaths at the Laurel Point Cemetery in Carmichaels Borough. A year later, the goal was to double the number, but the club exceeded its wildest expectations by raising enough money to place wreaths on all of the 306 veterans’ graves and then some.

For 2014, the club again raised enough money to place wreaths at the now 309 graves in the cemetery.

Club President Andrea Semenoff said her organization found “those who donated in the past are willing to donate each year.”

Club members have gone door to door to businesses, placed the request for donations in church bulletins, and through word-of-mouth, reached its goal to place a wreath at every veteran’s grave at Laurel Point. The cost of the wreaths is $15 each.

Although the wreaths are specifically placed in the Carmichaels cemetery, Semenoff said, “We want the public to know they are invited whether they have someone buried there or not in honor of service members.”

The ceremony officially commences at noon to coincide with ceremonies at roughly 900 other locations. However, the Carmichaels American Legion Post 400 community band will offer a performance starting at 11:30 a.m. The band will also play selections during the WAA ceremony at Laurel Point, including “God Bless America,” and the “Navy Hymn,” dedicated to all service members. Band director Frank Ricco will again serve as emcee.

Guest speaker for the Carmichaels WAA is Greene County Senior Judge H. Terry Grimes. Sisters Paige and Peyton Armstrong will sing the National Anthem and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, respectively.

Following the ceremony, those in attendance who would like to help place the wreaths are invited to join the club members and local Boy Scouts in doing so. Veterans’ graves are specifically marked to aid in placement.