Various local groups supporting veterans will be accepting contributions this weekend and next to pay for this year’s laying of wreaths Dec. 16 at the graves of some of Darien’s veterans.
The ceremony, associated with Wreaths Across America, will be held at noon Saturday, Dec. 16 in Darien’s Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery.
Last year, wreaths covered all 2,184 graves in the veterans’ section of Spring Grove.
Wreaths Across America wreath-laying at Spring Grove Cemetery in a past year (picture from the Darien Chamber of Commerce website)
Members of Darien’s VFW Post #6933, Darien High School’s Support Our Soldiers group and Darien’s Monuments and Ceremonies Commission will be collecting for wreaths at these locations and times in October:
- On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Goodwives Stop & Shop
- On Sunday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Noroton Heights Stop and Shop
- On Oct. 21, sponsorships will be collected at Darien Doughnut from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and at Goodwives Stop and Shop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- On Sunday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Noroton Heights Stop and Shop
The public is encouraged to purchase wreath sponsorships and all are invited to help in the wreath laying ceremony again this year.
Wreaths at $15 each can also be ordered directly from Wreaths Across America, with the Group ID Code of CT0007 and Location Code of CTSGVD noted on the check/order form so that wreaths arrive at the Darien location.
The mailing address is: WAA P.O. Box 249Columbia Falls, Maine 04623. Wreaths can also be ordered from the website of Wreaths Across America, a non-profit 501(c) (3) founded to expand the annual wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery.