Recently, I learned about Wreaths Across America, which each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, participates by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over 1,000 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad. The even this year is scheduled for Saturday, December 16th. Volunteers can participate in one of two ways. The first is by buying a wreath, which costs $15, to be placed on a veterans grave. The second is by volunteering to help place the wreaths at the cemeteries.
While the most well known cemetery is Arlington, there are many cemeteries that participate and many of them don’t have enough wreaths or volunteers to go around. One of those cemeteries is at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (Volunteer or support a wreath here).
In checking out the details of the Soldiers’ Home wreath laying event, as of this this writing, there a total of 2,662 wreaths currently committed for 14,000 veteran graves. I think we can do better.
Details about the event is below and can also be found here.
Ceremony and Volunteer Information
Please join the young women of the DC metro area American Heritage Girls as we lay wreaths at US Soldiers’ & Airmen’s Home National Cemetery (DCSAHN) to honor and remember our deceased heroes. Please do not forget to register on the US Soldiers’ & Airmen’s Home National Cemetery (DCSAHN) to receive updates about the cemetery itself.
We will begin the ceremony at noon. Plan to arrive in time to park. When you arrive, please gather around the flag pole for the ceremony. Wreaths will be laid directly after the ceremony is over.
- Everyone of all ages and backgrounds is welcome.
- Ceremonies around the world will be starting at the same moment, so please be on time.
- Please help ensure that all participants get the opportunity to place a wreath.
- Please follow the instructions by volunteers on where to place wreaths, as well as “how” they should be placed.
- We especially appreciate volunteers willing to help clean-up. Cleanup day will be in January.
The most important thing to remember is to have a wonderful experience participating in the ceremony and thank you so much for help Wreaths achieve our mission to remember, honor and teach.
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The garden at the Armed Forces Retirement Home provides Residents and individuals from the surrounding neighborhoods an opportunity to garden, build friendships, and have fun. The Friends of the Soldiers Home manages the garden in partnership with the AFRH.
"The territory comprising Park View extends from Gresham Street north to Rock Creek Church Road, and from Georgia Avenue to the Soldiers' Home grounds, including the triangle bounded by Park Road, Georgia Avenue, and New Hampshire Avenue" (from Directory and History of Park View, 1921.)
Park View, D.C. 