National Wreath Project in Gettysburg
Published December 1, 2011
Volunteers lay wreaths at the Gettysburg National Cemetery last year. (File Photo) Evening Sun (click to go to article)
On Friday, December 2nd a wonderful holiday tradition is happening in Gettysburg – The National Wreath Project. On this day, volunteers will gather at the Gettysburg National Cemetery and place over 1,600 Christmas Wreaths on the graves of our Veterans.
About the project from the Gettysburg CVB Website:
This project is an extension of a program started 4 years ago by John and Susan McColley and the Sgt Mac Foundation. The McColleys are parents of Gettysburg native and United States Marine Corps Sergeant Eric McColley who was killed along with 7 other Marines and 2 Airmen in a helicopter accident in the Horn of Africa on 17 February 2006. Last year the Foundation placed 2,100 wreaths on graves at Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia were Eric is interred. We also placed approximately 800 wreaths in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. This year we will expand the number of Wreaths to include ALL of the headstones in the original section of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. With the financial assistance of local and other Veterans organizations, private and business support we are able to expand this program. We also received and are seeking assistance from any patriotic Americans across the Country.
Participants will meet at the GIANT FOOD STORE parking lot on Route 30/York Road in Gettysburg, PA at 8:00am on Friday December 2nd to tie the bows on the wreaths. At 12:45 PM they will meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to the Gettysburg National Cemetery and place wreaths on over 1,600 graves. Attendance and support is most welcome.
Read more about the National Wreath Project here.
