Honoring veterans with 'Wreaths Across America'

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Hundreds of wreaths were laid down Saturday at Fairview Cemetery in honor of those who served our country.

It was all part of National Wreaths Across America Day with 1,400 other cities participating across the country.  A local group coordinated Saturday’s ceremony in Mishawaka honoring the near 3,000 veterans buried at Fairview Cemetery.

“They are taking a live balsalm wreath, they are laying it at a headstone of a veteran that has passed but they are saying that veteran’s name at every wreath that they lay down,” Audrey Wilkins said, the location coordinator for Wreaths Across America. “We’re not decorating headstones we’re literally honoring that veteran, saying their name and making sure they’re not forgotten. We don’t want anybody to forget the cost of fighting for our freedom or defending this country.”

While they were only able to honor a handful of them with 300 wreaths, it still meant the world to those who participated.

Today was the first time wreaths were laid at Fairview Cemetery but it won’t be the last time.

You can expect another wreath-laying ceremony at Fairview next year on the second Saturday of December.