Wreaths Across America 2023 is on the way

With the observance of Veterans Day this Saturday, it’s also time to remember that “Wreaths Across America 2023” will soon be here. The “Veterans at the Library” group is projecting that the 2nd annual wreath laying project will honor over 2,000 veteran’s burial sites during the upcoming Christmas season. Monday, November 27, is the last day to submit an order for a wreath. The live, green Christmas wreaths will be placed all across Emanuel County on Dec. 16, either by family members or by a veteran from the library group. Project Chairman John Tapley said the project is growing as hoped; “Our first year was very well received by the public, and we fully expect 2023 to be even larger. Our main purpose is just to be sure that the final resting place of every veteran in Emanuel County we know about is remembered during the holiday season. If you know of a burial site that is not on our current list, please let us know.”

The Veterans group has grown in size and regularly has 45 to 50 members in attendance every Monday morning at the Franklin Memorial Library in Swainsboro. Scotty Nasworthy is just one of the veterans who has been deeply involved with the wreath project from the start; “There are over 180 large and small cemeteries in Emanuel County. We want this project to cover the whole county and cemeteries of every size, including church and family cemeteries to be included.” Once again this year, a ceremony will be held at the Swainsboro City Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. for the commissioning of the wreath placement. Please plan to be a part of this year’s project at this special time of the year and honor the memory of relatives or friends who served our country.

A sample order form is included in this issue and the next two issues of The Blade. For more information on this project, please contact Sherri Watt at Franklin Memorial Library.