Wreaths placed on veterans’ graves at Oregon cemetery as part of nationwide Wreaths Across America

OREGON – One-hundred-ninety-nine wreaths were placed on the graves of veterans at Daysville Cemetery southeast of Oregon on Saturday as part of the nationwide Wreaths Across America.

The afternoon event, coordinated by the Rochelle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Oregon VFW Post 8739, was made possible by donations that exceeded expectations.

“The community’s response when asked to help was so incredible that we not only met the goal of honoring all veterans at Daysville, but have also been credited with wreaths for next year,” said Laurie Perry, regent of the Rochelle Chapter of the DAR, who spoke at the afternoon event.

Wreaths Across America announced a matching program where any wreaths sponsored between Dec. 18 and Jan. 14 will be doubled for 2022′s Wreaths Across America Day.

Perry urged people to go to wreathsacrossamerica.org/IL0136P and select sponsored cemeteries. It cost $15 each to sponsor a wreath.

“It’s such an honor to bring WAA to more cemeteries in our community,” Perry said.

Oregon VFW Post 8739 helped lay wreathes on the graves of veterans buried at Daysville Cemetery in Oregon and sponsored 10 wreaths.

Wreaths included special wreaths for each branch of the U.S. military, one for Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action, and two that were placed at graves of unknown veterans.

There are 199 veterans buried in Daysville Cemetery, including a Revolutionary War veteran, Perry said.

Scouts from Troop 81 in Oregon helped place the wreaths and Troop 2189 Girl Scouts gave the Pledge of Allegiance to open Saturday’s event.

National Wreaths Across America Day was held at 3,136 participating locations across the country. More than 525 truckloads of wreaths delivered and placed on 2.4 million veterans’ headstones.

According to Wreaths Across America: “Each live, balsam veteran’s wreath was a gift of respect and appreciation, sponsored by an individual or organization and placed on a headstone by volunteers as a small gesture of gratitude for the freedoms Americans enjoy.

“For centuries, fresh evergreens have been used as a symbol of honor and have served as a living tribute renewed annually. Wreaths Across America believes the tradition represents a living memorial that honors veterans, active-duty military, and their families.”


Earleen Hinton

Earleen Hinton

Earleen creates content and oversees production of 8 community weeklies. She has worked for Shaw Newspapers since 1985.