December 16 was the National Wreaths Across America Day. The day’s mission is to Remember, Honor and Teach, carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over 1,200 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad.

Here in Alaska, Kenai and Soldotna participated for the second year in the Wreaths Across America Day.

John Walker, the Commander of the Jerry V. Horn Memorial Post 10046 Veterans of Foreign Wars, told the Dispatch, “It’s a national program that our past Commander Bob Miles got us included in and every year we have live wreaths shipped up here to Alaska and distributed to Veteran’s organizations and civilian organizations as well so that every December 16 at noon across the nation these organizations go to where our veterans are buried to lay a wreath and speak the names of our brothers and sisters who have fallen to remember their lives.

“We appreciate the awesome support from our local communities for their support of ceremonies like these and even though it’s pretty nasty today weather wise when the families of these veterans visit their loved ones grave they will know that we remember and appreciate their service to our country,” said Walker.

It’s appropriate that at the holidays when those deployed in service to protect our freedoms who are not at home that those of us here show our appreciation for our fallen brothers and sisters said Walker.

“Those who come to the VFW, AmVets or American Legions across the nation do so to be around their brothers and sisters because not everybody can understand what they have been through and it takes someone who has experience as similar situation to really understand what that bond that is created means. Veterans don’t have to be members to come by and fellowship with us. They are always welcome as a guest among those who understand what they have been through,” said Walker.

With a mission to remember, honor and teach veterans lay wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers in Soldotna and Kenai.

With a mission to remember, honor and teach veterans lay wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers in Soldotna and Kenai.