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More than 3 million volunteers nationwide placed wreaths at headstones in more than 4,200 cemeteries in recent days.
The mission of the annual "Wreaths Across America" project is simple: Remember. Honor. Teach. That mission has been fulfilled every year since 1992.
Locally, those ideals were fulfilled when some 250 volunteers recognized our fallen service men and women at Mahoning Valley cemeteries, including two in Girard and Niles.
Girard's Wreaths Across America event was sponsored by Girard American Legion Post 235 and Blackstone Funeral Home. The funeral home began participating in this memorial event several years ago to honor World War I veterans, because they were less likely to have family members to regularly pay respects. Since then, the sponsorship expanded to all 1,100 veterans buried in the Girard cemetery. Other volunteers helping in this large undertaking involved Pitt Ohio Trucking.
Bravo!
Bravo also to volunteers who placed wreaths on military graves in Niles Union Cemetery this weekend.
Before laying of the wreaths there last weekend, Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz offered gratitude to the veterans for their service, Taps was played, and the combined Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2074 and American Legion Post 106 honored interred veterans with a 21-gun salute.
The events were solemn, moving and deserved.
While many volunteered their time, we were especially pleased to see the number of young people who turned out to offer time, support and respect.
They included students from Girard High School Beta Club and other young people in Niles.
We extend very special gratitude to everyone who helped to organize the ceremonies, volunteered to place wreaths or who took part in one of the remembrances that occurred nationwide for several years.
Participation in the program helps to ensure it continues to meet its goal of remembering the fallen, honoring those who serve and their families and teaching future generations about the sacrifices that have been made to preserve our freedoms.
Sponsors still may participate in a wreath match through Jan. 16, 2024, in which sponsorships will be matched one-for-one from the national Wreaths Across America organization. For more information, contact Furano at 330-544-9000, ext. 1154, or visit www.wreathsacrossamer
ica.org.
And mark your calendar now for next year's event. National Wreaths Across America Day 2024 will be Dec. 14.