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Christmas wreaths to be laid on veterans' graves

Union-Recorder - 12/20/2021

Dec. 18—Christmas is a special time of the year.

Such certainly rings true for dozens of volunteers who come out every year to the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery near Milledgeville to remember nearly 4,000 veterans who are buried there and at one time served in branches of the military.

Saturday, community volunteers representing several organizations will work to lay Christmas wreaths on gravesites.

An 18-wheel tractor-trailer truck, loaded with dozens of boxes full of wreaths, was escorted onto the grounds of the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Tuesday morning by the Patriot Guard Riders and American Legion Riders on motorcycles. The majority of the motorcyclists are also veterans.

The truck was driven by Darryl Dunn of Sapulpa, Okla.

It marked his fourth consecutive year driving the special cargo of wreaths to the cemetery.

"I consider it a big honor to do this for our veterans," said Dunn.

Special escorts to the cemetery were provided by officers and deputies with the Eatonton Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Milledgeville Police Department and Baldwin County Sheriff's Office before the boxes were off-loaded by volunteers at a storage site. Similar events were held across the country this week to remember veterans.

The wreaths will be taken out of the boxes and placed on each of the graves throughout the cemetery beginning at noon on Saturday.

The local weather forecast calls for rain most of the day, but that won't put a stop to the planned event.

"This is something we'll do rain or shine," said Linda Lavender, director of the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville. "We will put wreaths on the graves all afternoon long until we have finished."

Family members of those buried at the cemetery will be allowed to come out and participate in the laying of a wreath at their loved one's gravesite.

"We won't be holding a special ceremony because of COVID-19 restrictions, but we'll be here until all wreaths have been placed on each of the graves," Lavender told The Union-Recorder in an interview earlier this week.

There are about 3,700 graves at the cemetery, which reflects the need for about 250 more wreaths than were needed at the cemetery last year, according to Russell Feagin, director for Health and Memorials Division with the Georgia Department of Veterans Services.

"For next year, it will probably require close to 300 additional wreaths over the number of wreaths we will put out this year," Feagin said.

John Griffin, post commander of the Morris-Little American Legion Post in Milledgeville, said he expects between 15 and 20 members who have signed up to help Saturday, as well as several volunteers from the community who have agreed to come out and participate.

Lavender said other volunteers will include employees from Delta Airlines coming down to Milledgeville from Atlanta, soldiers from Fort Gordon near Augusta, Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, the Lake Oconee Elks in Putnam County, The Knights of Columbus from Lake Oconee, The Military Officers Association of Milledgeville, Georgia Military College Raiders, Colonel Ebenezer Folsom NSDAR, Sukey Hart Chapter of NSDAR, Nathaniel Macon DAR Chapter of Georgia, and Sunbury Chapter of NSDAR of Winder.

Everyone is being asked to arrive before noon for parking purposes.

"We will have the families come forward first, take a wreath and place it," Lavender said. "And then we'll let our volunteers come next and start putting them out."

Lavender, Feagin and Griffin were each asked what it means to them to be part of something so special at Christmas.

"It makes your heart full that there's still people that remember what freedom is all about and whose responsible for it," Lavender said.

Feagin echoed her sentiments.

"It's so nice that people still want to come out and honor their loved ones and honor even strangers that they don't know, but recognize what they contributed and sacrificed for our country," Feagin said. "That's why I think it's important that we place wreaths on all graves throughout the cemetery, not just the graves of veterans, but on the graves of family members and what the sacrifices they made, too, in support of veterans."

Griffin said it's one of the most touching things that happens each year.

"There are so many veterans who have been left behind and so many veterans that have not been recognized," Griffin said. "This is one of the special ways that I can help recognize those who have been laid to rest here. It gives me a great sense of being. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I will continue to do this for as long as my health holds out."

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(c)2021 The Union-Recorder (Milledgeville, Ga.)

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