More than 1,500 wreaths with bright red ribbons will be placed on the graves of veterans this weekend in Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties. Since 2006, Wreaths for Warriors has been a tradition in Central Pennsylvania.
Riverview Cemetery in Northumberland is empty now, but on Sunday many of the graves will be decorated with wreaths in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Decorating the graves is a Central Pennsylvania tradition called Wreaths for Warriors, that started in 2006.
"We started here in the cemetery with a very meager 65 wreaths and we took five over to Orchard Hills Cemetery in Shamokin Dam in their veterans section and five out to Northumberland Park in their veterans section," Dick Simpson said.
There are now more than 1,500 wreaths that get distributed among at least 70 cemeteries in Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties.
Employees at Kohl`s Stony Hill Tree Farm near Danville make the wreaths and store them in their warehouses.
"It's a nice project. They put the wreaths on for veterans and to be able to give a little bit back for the freedoms that we have. We're just thankful to be involved," Stan Kohl said.
The women who have been making the Wreaths for Warriors have been making them for about two weeks now and Kohl says they will continue to do so right up until the deadline.
"It takes a lot of time, a lot of branches to make up the wreaths that we have to," Kohl said.
The Wreaths for Warriors committee and volunteers will put the wreaths on veterans' graves as a way to honor local heroes.
"I think it's incredible what we can do to honor those who have not only served and paid the ultimate sacrifice, but all those who have served," Simpson said.
The group will meet this Sunday at 12:30 at Shikellamy State Park near Sunbury and spread out to the different cemeteries.
