Wreaths Across America to Remember Veterans December 18th at Rose Hill Cemetery

Kelly Griffith-Shaul (right) and her husband, Benjamin Shaul (left), visit the gravesite of Kelly’s brother, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Samuel Griffith in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Dec. 12, 2021. Maj. Griffith was killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 14, 2011. Because of his love of Christmas, Kelly decorates her brother’s wreath every year with Christmas ornaments. She and her husband visited ANC as part of the 30th Wreaths Across America Event. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)

Bloomingtonian reader and veterans’ advocate Jenny Tracy sent the following letter to remind community members that Wreaths Across America will be on December 18th at 12 p.m. in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Here is the text of the letter:

“WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY

To the Editor:

On December 18, 2021, it is National Wreaths Across America Day,  and this is the perfect opportunity to not only serve our veterans but to serve as a family.

Each December, Wreaths Across America’s mission is to Remember, Honor, and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,500 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.  For the first time ever, one of Bloomington’s own cemeteries is participating in this event.

Go here: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/inrose for more details on how to sponsor a wreath or volunteer in the wreath-laying ceremony on Wreaths Day. We have reached our goal of wreaths sponsored and we need the community’s help to honor 688 Veterans laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery.

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 18 with the support of several other organizations (VFW Auxiliary #604, Bloomington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, VFW #7850 want to personally thank all service members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America for their innumerable contributions to protecting our freedoms and keeping our nation safe.

We also want to thank the families of deployed service members for their strength and their sacrifice. Our country is great because of you. In your honor, we want to invite everyone in the Bloomington, Ellettsville, Gosport, and Spencer communities to take a moment and stop by Rose Hill before the hustle and bustle of the holiday is upon us.   Take a moment to place a wreath on a Veterans grave,  pause in recognition of those who have fought and those who continue to fight for our freedom, and teach our younger generation the importance of being patriotic. We hope to see you on December 18th at 12pm.

As the Vice President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 18, we are proud to be surrounded by organizations, businesses, and sponsors that feel that liberty, freedom, and democracy are important. Without the community’s support, we could not have hosted this event. We are grateful.

The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) is a community of volunteers serving veterans, the military, and their families. Our members also support the mission of The American Legion in improving the quality of life for our nation’s veterans. Proud sponsor of ALA Girls Nation, National Poppy Day®, and recognized for advocating for veterans on Capitol Hill, the more than 600,000 ALA members across the country volunteer millions of hours annually and raise millions of dollars in service to veterans, military, and their families. Founded in 1919, the ALA is one of the oldest patriotic membership organizations in the U.S.A. To learn more and to volunteer, join, and donate, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org.

Jenny Tracy

ALA Unit 18 Vice President and Public Relations Chairman

812-320-3871

[email protected]

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