Wreaths To Adorn Veterans' Graves In Lakewood, Across America

LAKEWOOD, NJ — War veterans will be honored this weekend as Christmas wreaths are placed on their graves through the Wreaths Across America program on Saturday.

Wreaths Across America formally organized in 2007, but got its start informally in 1992 when a Maine wreath company wanted to donate wreaths for graves at Arlington National Cemetery, to remember and honor the nation's service members.

"The annual tribute went on quietly for several years, until 2005, when a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated around the internet. Suddenly, the project received national attention," the organization says on its website. "Thousands of requests poured in from all over the country from people wanting to help with Arlington, to emulate the Arlington project at their National and State cemeteries. ..."

In 2006, there were simultaneous wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 150 locations around the country, and in 2008, more than 300 locations held wreath-laying ceremonies, in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries, with more than 100,000 wreaths placed on veterans’ graves, with more than 60,000 volunteers taking part.

That effort continues Saturday, with wreath-layings and ceremonies at several cemeteries in Ocean County and around New Jersey.

That includes the Brig. General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown. That ceremony is set to begin at 11 a.m. The cemetery address is 350 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown.

Ceremonies in and near Lakewood are as follows. Click the cemetery name for a link to more information:

• Osbornville Protestant Church on Mantoloking Road in Brick will hold its ceremony at noon.
• Gravelly Graveyard, Fairview Way in Brick, is holding its ceremony at 9 a.m. and Brick Township officials will be in attendance.
• First Baptist Church of Laurelton, 1824 Route 88, Brick, is holding its ceremony at 9 a.m.
• Methodist Episcopal Cemetery East, 1033 Arnold Ave., Point Pleasant, is holding its ceremony at noon.
• Methodist Episcopal Cemetery West, 1133 Arnold Ave., Point Pleasant, is holding its ceremony at noon.
• White Lawn Cemetery, Trenton Avenue, Point Pleasant, is holding its ceremony at noon.
• Ocean County Memorial Park, 1722 Silverton Road, Toms River, is holding its ceremony at noon.
• Cedar Grove Cemetery, 797 Bay Ave., Toms River, is holding its ceremony at noon.
• Old Methodist Church, Washington Avenue, Toms River, is holding its ceremony at noon.
• St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums, 62 Cedar Grove Road, Toms River, is holding its ceremony at noon.
• Woodlawn Cemetery, Route 9 and County Line Road in Lakewood, is holding its ceremony at noon.
• Riverside Cemetery, at 1001 Route 166, Toms River, is holding its ceremony at noon.
• Silverton Cemetery, at County 549 and Church Road, Toms River, did not have a specific time for its ceremony.

Wreaths Across America says its mission is to remember, honor and teach: "Remember the Fallen ... Honor those who Serve ... Teach our children the value of Freedom." It encourages people to share the stories of those who are being honored with wreaths, and had more than 4,700 posts about people who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.