Wreaths Across America Slated for Saturday

After three successful years of participating in Wreaths Across America, American Legion Post 133 in South Windsor will honor more veterans than ever.

According to the event site, the Post has sponsored more than 1,000 wreaths.

A ceremony to "remember, honor and teach" regarding the sacrifices made by the town's armed servicemen and women over the years will be held at Veterans Memorial Park Saturday, beginning at noon. Following the ceremony, volunteers will place the wreaths on the graves of South Windsor veterans.

“The purpose is to remember and honor veterans and to teach the younger generations that the freedoms we have came - and still do come - at a great cost,” Sladyk said last year.

Wreaths Across America, according to its website, began 20 years ago when Morrill Worcester of Maine took 5,000 surplus wreaths and laid them at veterans’ graves in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

The concept eventually grew to the point where, in 2011 some 93,000 wreaths were laid at Arlington National Cemetery last year alone. In addition, some 750 communities nationwide also took part in their own ceremonies, all of which take place on the same day in December at noon.

In 2010, its first year taking part in the program, Post 133 raised money for 50 wreaths. Last year grew to 450 and still even more this year.

Sladyk said that anyone interested in donating for next year’s Wreaths Across America ceremony can do so by mailing checks made out to Wreaths Across America to American Legion Post 133, P.O. Box 1030, South Windsor, CT 06074.