Wreaths Across America Day Set for Dec. 13

"We started in 2019. This will be our seventh time placing wreaths," noted Paula Diem of Gap, when describing the annual Wreaths Across America program during which volunteers place wreaths at the graves of veterans to remember and honor those who served in the military. "We started with 1,250 wreaths. This year, we will be placing over 3,000 wreaths in 30 cemeteries. It is such a labor of love. I feel so blessed that our community loves our veterans and wants to do this."

This year's National Wreaths Across America Day will be observed on Saturday, Dec. 13. Locally, the program will begin with a ceremony at noon at the Pequea Valley Secondary School, 4033 E. Newport Road, Kinzers.

Diem, who is the location coordinator for the local program, will lead the ceremony, which will be held indoors and is free and open to the community. "I will talk about Wreaths Across America and the meaning of the day," she said, noting that there will be special wreaths presented to local veterans and community members representing the branches of the military. "We will present eight wreaths on behalf of the Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard and the POW/MIAs."

Following the ceremony, the special wreaths will be transported to the Gap VFW by auxiliary member Dick Martin. The eight wreaths will be displayed on the front lawn of the building.

The wreaths that will be placed at cemeteries in the Pequea Valley and Octorara areas will arrive at the Gap Fire Company on Thursday, Dec. 11. "A Tyson Food truck brings our wreaths to Gap, and then students from Pequea Valley unload the truck with their adviser," Diem explained. "For some students, this is their fifth year to do it. These kids started in eighth grade. This group (of students) is special to me."

Once the boxes are unloaded from the truck, they are organized inside the fire company. "On Saturday morning at 8 a.m., the local fire companies come to the Gap Fire Hall, and they take the boxes of wreaths and deliver them to our cemeteries," noted Diem.

Volunteers, including members of Boy Scout troops from Parkesburg and Paradise, will lay the wreaths on the graves that are marked as veterans either with a flag or plaque. "At each grave, while laying the wreath, we are to say the veteran's name, branch of service and thank them for their service," Diem said, noting this tradition is practiced nationwide at all Wreaths Across America events.

The wreaths are purchased through fundraising efforts and with donations from local businesses and individuals. "Each wreath is $17, so (we need) over $50,000," noted Diem. "We have two bingos a year, a golf outing, plus our craft show. We also sell candles."

Diem said that the Wreaths Across America tradition continues each holiday season no matter the conditions. "We have been in the rain and 30-mile-an-hour winds and 20-degree weather, and one year we had to dig out snow to place wreaths," she said. "But our veterans did things in zero degrees and 140-degree weather. It's only an hour of our time, and it was their way of life."

Those who would like to help place wreaths on Dec. 13 should contact Diem at 717-587-1315 or register at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/papqvc. Volunteers are also needed to remove the wreaths on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.

"From the time we start on Thursday to the day we pick up the wreaths after they have been on the grave for approximately six weeks, there are over 300 volunteers," Diem added. "We can't do it without them."

For more information about the local program, visit the previously mentioned website or search for "Wreaths Across America Pequea Valley Cemeteries" on Facebook.