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Date: 12/12/2023
MONSON — Nonprofit Friends of Monson will be hosting three wreath placing events for Wreaths Across America day on Dec. 16, member Karen Davis announced at the Nov. 28 Select Board meeting.
The organization will be placing wreaths at 9 a.m. in Hillcrest Cemetery, at 10 a.m. in Hillside Cemetery and at 11:30 a.m. in Bethany Cemetery, according to Jered Sasen, the Wilbraham Director of Veterans Services and temporary director for Monson.
Between the Friends of Monson’s three locations, 1,075 wreaths will be placed at graves in Monson this year, the organization said. This number ensures all veterans in town will be honored. Members Davis and Kristine Duval also stated that the organization raised more than $18,000.
“We made it with the generosity of several businesses and [Select Board members] Patricia [Oney and], Peter [Warren]. At the end, we made our totals,” Davis said. “We appreciate every business, every person that donated; all of you for your support.”
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that coordinates the placement of wreaths at veteran graves each year throughout the world on a specified day. In 2023, that day is Dec. 16, when wreaths will be placed at more than 4,000 cemeteries, according to the organization’s website.
All wreaths that will be placed are specially made by Wreaths Across America to honor traits of veterans, including strength, love, ambition and honesty, the website stated.
At each cemetery, there will first be a small ceremony before veteran families will be given the opportunity to place their wreaths. Volunteers will then assist with placing the remaining wreaths, Davis said.
For more information about the wreath placing events, visit the Friends of Monson Facebook page at facebook.com/people/Friends-of-Monson/100084147394875/.