Remember, Honor, and Teach: Wreaths Across America remembers those who have served

WASHINGTON (KDKA) – Every December, 1000’s of People at cemeteries throughout the nation take a second to honor and bear in mind our veterans forward of the vacations. 

It is a part of the Wreaths Throughout America group.

Wreaths Throughout America: Fallen veterans to be honored Saturday throughout Pennsylvania

This yr, greater than 15,000 wreaths had been bought and positioned on the graves on the Nationwide Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Washington County. 

For the primary time because the pandemic began, volunteers and households throughout the area gathered collectively on the Nationwide Cemetery of the Alleghenies to put the wreaths on the graves of those that served and are now not with us. 

“It is a chilly day, the snow is falling, and it is a lovely day to be placing wreaths out on the nationwide cemetery,” stated Ed Hajduk, the cemetery director. 

Over 23,000 veterans are buried on the Nationwide Cemetery of the Alleghenies and the objective of this system is to position a wreath at each grave – to recollect, honor, and train. 

“To have all these individuals exhibiting up at present to recollect, to honor, and to show and assist us place the wreaths for the veterans who gave the final word sacrifice, it is fantastic,” stated Bonnie Wishner of Strabane. 

“That is additionally to show our youthful generations on what it price to be free,” added Hajduk. “For those who look across the cemetery, every considered one of these headstones that you just see is the fee that it takes to be free.” 

A small ceremony was held on the cemetery on Saturday with practically 2,000 individuals in attendance. 

“Means a lot to the entire household,” stated Ashley Schmider, a South Fayette resident. “It is so superior we now have a nationwide cemetery proper right here in our yard and that we will come to go to it on a regular basis and actually bear in mind the service to the nation.” 

The Schmider household stated their beloved one handed away in October and he was a member of the Military. 

They stated having him there’s a method to bear in mind his dwell and repair for the nation.