UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Every year leading up to Christmas, residents and businesses sponsor remembrance wreaths for veterans' graves at Resurrection Cemetery in Wescosville.
More than 1,500 veterans are buried at the cemetery. But last year, only 1,032 wreaths were placed, leaving hundreds of veterans without a wreath.
This year, volunteers with the local chapter of Wreaths Across America are working to change that.
Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit that raises money to place wreaths on the graves of veterans and coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies every December.
Co-coordinator of the local fundraiser John Fitzpatrick said he and the other local volunteers are a “little more than halfway” to raising enough money to ensure every deceased veteran will have a remembrance wreath.
They have until Tuesday, Nov. 28, to raise the rest of the funds.
“We're out seeking people to help close that gap,” Fitzpatrick said.
Resurrection Cemetery will host a ceremony to lay the remembrance wreaths at noon Saturday, Dec. 16, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.
"It's a good way of giving thanks for their service."John Fitzpatrick, co-coordinator of the local Wreaths Across America fundraiser
Past years have brought hundreds of volunteers to the cemetery to lay the wreaths, Fitzpatrick said.
“I'm a veteran myself. My son's a fourth generation,” Fitzpatrick said. “So we have a long, long history of serving in my family. So it's important to me, and it's a good way of giving thanks for their service.”
The wreaths are live and made of Maine balsam. It costs $17 to sponsor one wreath. St. Luke’s University Health Network will fund one wreath for every two purchased, Fitzpatrick said.
Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America began in 2007 by Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Maine.
The mission of Wreaths Across America is to “remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom,” the website reads.
The nonprofit’s goal is to place a wreath on the grave of every deceased veteran.
In 2022, Wreaths Across America placed more than 2.7 million wreaths on veterans’ headstones at 3,702 participating locations, according to its website.
Fitzpatrick said the ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery will be held at the same time as ceremonies at other locations across the country.
“It's really a moving event,” Fitzpatrick said.
Father Christopher Butera, an Army chaplain and Diocese of Allentown priest, will provide the invocation and benediction. Col. James Crocker, the Tobyhanna Army Depot commander, will provide brief remarks.
A couple of students will then read essays about patriotism before the wreaths are laid by veterans.
There will be several other wreath-laying ceremonies in Lehigh County, including events in Allentown, South Whitehall Township and Lowhill Township.
