Wreaths Across America

Onondaga County's Veterans Memorial Cemetery is proud to join the efforts of the national, nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) as an official wreath-laying location for 2017. WAA was founded in 1992 to support the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach, ensuring that the memory of those who served our country endures. This is the second year that the cemetery will participate in this one-day national event, which is free and open to the public, on Saturday, December 16. Beginning at 12noon, members of each branch of the military and volunteers will be on hand to lay ceremonial wreaths at the flagpole and distribute additional wreaths throughout the cemetery.

Local funeral home Farone & Son, is spearheading the effort to place up to 500 wreaths in Veterans Cemetery and is currently accepting monetary donations from individuals and groups to purchase the wreaths. In 2016, 1.2 million wreaths were placed on the headstones of veterans at more than 1,230 cemeteries around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms.  Wreaths are $15 each and the goal is to be able to honor as many veterans as possible. In addition, volunteers are needed to place the wreaths on the graves during and after the ceremony.

Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located at 4069 Howlett Hill Road, Syracuse. For more information about the Wreaths Across America Ceremony or to purchase a wreath, contact, Farone & Son Funeral Home at (315) 422-1911 or www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. For more information about the cemetery, visit www.OnondagaCountyParks.com.