Wreaths Adorn Veterans' Graves In Long Valley, Honoring Their Memory

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A special ceremony was held last Saturday to pay tribute to the hundreds of veterans who are buried in cemeteries throughout the Long Valley area.

The seventh annual Wreaths Across America- Long Valley New Jersey event was held on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 12 p.m. at St Mark the Evangelist RC Church, which is located at 59 Spring Lane.

The ceremony remembered the 363 veterans buried in Washington Township. Following the service, officials went around town laying wreaths at the deceased's graves.

The American Veterans Association of Washington Township or “AVAWT” Post 1776 was one of several groups among the community that helped to place wreaths on the veterans' graves in cemeteries around town.

At the ceremony, an honor guard presented the colors, with the National Anthem and Taps part of the program, Post 1776 wrote in a news release.

Following remarks from Washington Township Mayor Matt Murello, the group set up ceremonial wreaths representing the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines.

To learn more about the AVAWT, visit www.avawt.org.

Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit that seeks to remember fallen veterans, honor all who served and teach the next generation the value of freedom.

Since its inception, Wreaths Across America has coordinated wreath­-laying ceremonies at more than 3,700 locations across the United States, at sea and abroad.

For more information, visit the Wreaths Across America website.