The scouts from the Chantilly/Centreville area headed out to Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery in Maryland to participate in the Wreaths Across America event. Photo contributed
On Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, Boy Scout Troop 1995, Venture Crew 5, Troop 2 and Troop 893G from the Chantilly/Centreville area headed out to Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery in Maryland to participate in the Wreaths Across America event. More than 14,000 wreaths were placed on gravesites throughout the cemetery. The constant rain throughout the day did not discourage these young people from honoring our veterans. With the temperatures in the high forties, there were approximately 850 people in attendance who helped place the wreaths, including BSA Scouts, Girl Scouts of America, Patriot Guard Riders, Fraternal Order of Police, Youth Baseball Teams, JROTC and American Legion.
A ceremony was held in the morning at the Columbarium to honor the Veterans who were cremated, scouts from 893G honored these veterans by placing a wreath during the ceremony. During the ceremony at noon a wreath was laid for each branch of the military to honor all veterans in each branch. Each person in attendance was able to lay several wreaths. As they laid the wreath beside the grave, they spoke the veteran’s name, said a prayer or a moment of silence and thanked them for their years of service.
Mark your calendars for Dec. 19, 2020 for the next Wreaths Across America event. Wreath donations will be taken through mid-November 2020. To order wreaths you can log onto wreathsacrossamerica.org and request location MDCHVC. There are many locations in the area that you can participate in the Wreaths Across America event, these locations can also be found at wreathsacrossamerica.org.