CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Close to 400 people turned out Saturday at Resthaven Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Clarksville for the Wreaths Across America Ceremony. Veterans, family members of veterans, many local veterans groups, and volunteers honored and remembered fallen veterans.
Organizers of the event say there are 1,800 veterans interred at Resthaven Memorial Gardens and Saturday 1,665 wreaths were laid on their graves, which is 90 percent, and the most that has ever been done in the many years of the event in Clarksville.
“We honored our fallen veterans for one thing and as far as Wreaths Across America that is what the theme is all about is to honor, remember, and teach our children about their life and their sacrifices,” said Alicia Clark, Location Coordinator for Wreaths Across America at Resthaven.
A veteran from each of the Armed Forces came forward during the ceremony to lay a wreath for their branch of the military. One of the veterans was 99-year-old Joe Winn, who served in both WWII and the Korean War. He laid a wreath for those who served and are now serving in the U.S. Navy.
An estimeted 1,500 sites in all 50 states, at sea and around the world held wreath-laying ceremonies Saturday. Locally, ceremonies were also held at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Headquarters on Fort Campbell and Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville.