ANDERSONVILLE —  Andersonville National Historic Site invites  the public to remember and honor our military veterans during the winter season by participating in the Wreaths Across America program at noon Dec. 12.
Wreaths Across America is a national program that encourages individuals, community groups and families to sponsor wreaths for placement in national cemeteries throughout the United States. These wreaths may be placed on specific graves, or left undesignated to place on one of thousands of unvisited graves. Wreaths may be purchased and sent to Andersonville National Cemetery by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.  Wreaths may also be purchased from local florists or home improvement stores and placed at the cemetery throughout the month of December.
Each year, Andersonville National Cemetery receives approximately 200 donated wreaths for it’s over 20,000 gravesites. To ensure that each grave will be decorated at least once, volunteers and park staff rotate wreath placement by sections. For 2015, undesignated wreaths will be placed in Section B & C, which contains burials dating from the Civil War to the early 1900s.
At noon Dec. 12,  the Civil Air Patrol will conduct a brief ceremony honoring America’s armed forces in the Andersonville National Cemetery. This ceremony is open to the public.  Attendees are encouraged to bring a wreath, for placement after the service.
If you, your family, organization, or business is interested in sponsoring one or more wreaths, you can learn more about the program and sponsor wreaths online at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Please remember to visit the Andersonville National Cemetery page to ensure your wreath arrives at the intended location.
Beginning Dec. 1, wreaths and floral blankets no larger than 2 by 3 feet are permitted in the cemetery. Wreaths should be brought in person, or delivered by a florist, directly to the gravesite. To find the location of a specific grave, visit http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov or stop at the National Prisoner of War Museum for assistance.
“The laying of a wreath at the grave of a friend, family member or stranger is a simple expression of gratitude,” says Charles Sellars, superintendent of Andersonville National Historic Site. “At this busy time of year, the wreath ceremony helps us pause to remember the many sacrifices of these men and women who chose to serve their country.”