More than 1,000 volunteers braved below freezing temperatures to participate in Wreaths Across America, placing 4,229 Veterans Remembrance Wreaths in honor of local veterans Dec. 14 at Alexandria National Cemetery.

“The annual Wreaths Across America event at Alexandria National Cemetery was a huge success,” said VFW Post 609 Commander Gerald Krueger. “Over 1,000 Alexandria area patriotic citizens joined military veterans from several VSOs, along with Scouts, cadets, church groups, and more, in placing wreaths on all 4,229 veterans’ gravestones.” 

National Wreaths Across America Day took place at over 4,225 cemeteries across the country with over three million veterans honored this year.

“Every year we attempt to populate all tombstones in the Alexandria Cemetery with donated/contributed Veterans Remembrance Wreaths,” said Krueger, lead organizer of the event. “We came pretty close, with over 95 percent donated wreaths this year.”  

VFW Post 609 hosted the public for the annual Wreaths Across America event at the historic Alexandria National Cemetery for its 16th year. The Alexandria tradition first began in December of 2009.

Collaborator Veteran Service Organizations included the American Legion Posts 24 and 1775, and the Association of the US Navy Kenyon Anderson local chapter.

“The mission of Wreaths Across America is to Remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom,” Krueger said. 

The event began with a traditional military ceremony honoring all the Veterans of the Military Services. Eight

specially identified Veterans Service Wreaths were positioned in front of the historic 1890s Cemetery gates; and then a uniformed service member, either on active duty or retired, was escorted by uniformed Challenger Squadron I, Civil Air Patrol Cadets as they marched inbound to present their wreaths at the Cemetery American Flag Pole. There the special wreaths were hung on the railing behind the flag pole.  

Then, the over 4,000 balsam wreaths were handed out two-to-a-visitor for respectful placement of the wreaths on veterans' graves.

Once again, Saint Rita Catholic School's American Heritage Girls was the largest contributor to wreaths, “as they are every year,” Krueger said.

Other groups who raised significant numbers of WAA wreaths include: VFW Post 609; American Legion Post 24; Military Officers Association of America; Old Town Village and Christ Church; Sons of the American Legion Squadron 176, Springfield; George Washington Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution; three chapters of Daughters of the American Revolution - Dr. Elisha Dick Chapter, Mount Vernon Chapter, and the John Alexander Chapter.

This year’s wreaths will be removed and recycled on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2025, beginning at 8 a.m. Volunteers are welcome.

Fundraising for next year’s Wreaths Across America has begun with the Wreaths Across America organization in Columbia Falls, Maine, again announcing they will match one-for-one additional wreath for pledges made through registered Sponsorship Groups. The offer runs through Jan. 17, 2025. The link to donate through VFW Post 609-Alexandria is www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/VA0930P

“We are inspired by the support of the community, including Saint Rita’s American Heritage Girls, who have been the top organization for getting pledges for us for the last 5-6 years,” Krueger said. “The Wreaths Across America veterans remembrance wreaths is a way for a community to honor those who have served.”