The Beginnings….
The Wreaths Across America event began in Arlington National Cemetery. Its original purpose was to remember and honor the memory of veterans buried in the older sections of the cemetery, which were receiving fewer visitors every year. In 2005, when a picture was placed on the internet of rows upon rows of snow-covered tombstones decorated with green wreaths with red bows, the idea went viral around the country and suddenly there was a national interest in duplicating the ceremony.
The project came to Lynchburg, Virginia, in 2008, thanks to the efforts of a past regent of the Blue Ridge Chapter, NSDAR. When the members of the Blue Ridge Chapter, NSDAR, learned that more than 2,300 veterans are buried in Lynchburg’s Old City Cemetery, representing every war from the American Revolution through Desert Storm, the ladies rolled up their sleeves and went to work. The first event was held that December and the number of wreaths place has steadily grown. A record 1,926 wreaths were placed on December 14, 2019.
The Desmond T Doss Memorial VFW Post 12179 joins with the Blue Ridge Chapter, NSDAR, James River Chapter, NSDAR, and the Old City Cemetery in sponsoring this event.