Wreaths Across America Saturday, December 18 at Noon

DETAILS for Saturday, December 18th at MD Veterans Cemetery-Crownsville 

This will be long, PLEASE read the entire thing.

With your help, we have done an amazing job raising awareness for this date. We have more wreaths sponsored than ANY other cemetery in the state of Maryland. Considering how many others we have within a 45 mile radius, it is even more phenomenal. We will be able to place over 16,000 wreaths.

Last year we had approximately 3500 people come out to place 12,000 wreaths. Crownsville Veterans Cemetery is on a 2 lane country road with VERY limited parking. We do have access to the ball field across the street for parking, but parking there is not abundant either. The cemetery will be used to park our older visitors. Younger legs should park across the street. We request that you do NOT park on the grass.

We are expecting a large crowd again this year. Please find the largest mini-van and fill it. 

***Bring one vehicle for your group and not 2 or three.***

We do have county police on site to help with pedestrian safety and traffic control. Plan accordingly. Many could not make it to the cemetery in the past due to parking limitations. It will be taped and I will send out the link in an email if circumstances keep you from attending. I will (try) to put it on YouTube after the fact.

To alleviate SOME of the traffic, we have chosen to allow (IF YOU WANT) Grave Specific wreaths to be laid from 8-10:30 am. I understand that families may want to spend quiet time with their loved ones, instead of waiting around in the cold. We will have the wreaths laid out with your loved one's names on a piece of paper. You may also choose to attend the ceremony and then lay the Grave Specific Wreath after the ceremony with the rest of the volunteers.

A reminder that the ground can have low spots. Be careful and do not run. Also, walk between the graves or at the top of the headstone and not over them. Do not stand on them.

The ceremony will start promptly at 12:00. We do NOT have any seating. It should last approximately 40 minutes. As you are waiting, please talk to any veterans around you. Ask them their story if they wish to share. This is a great opportunity for the teach portion of the Wreaths Across America mission.

Wreath laying follows the ceremony. Do not lay a wreath on any grave that is flagged with a pink marker flag. These are graves that have had a grave specific wreath sponsored. Please give their family and friends the opportunity to lay their wreath.

Boxes of wreaths will be placed around the cemetery. Please do not open them until after the ceremony. At that time, please take 1 wreath. You may take the tag off of the back of the wreath as a keepsake of the day. Straighten the bow and fluff the branches. We have wreaths to cover 89% of the cemetery. If a grave has something on the grave already from their family, please say their name and do not place a wreath until the end if there are wreaths available. Do not fill in the sections. Place a wreath at the base of the headstone with the bow at the top. Please say their name as you are placing the wreath. It is said that we die twice. Once when our heart stops beating and again, when our names are said for the last time. Thank them for their service. If you feel comfortable, give them a salute and/or a prayer before moving on. Please do the same for any graves that will not have a wreath.

After everyone has placed 1 wreath, you may go back and place another. Break down empty boxes and place them at the curb in a pile. If you can, take a box or 2 home for recycling.

If weather is calling for ice or snow, we will make the call the morning of the ceremony. An email will be sent as well as a Facebook post.

We thank you for making this event a huge success. For allowing us to Remember, Honor and Teach. We thank you for reading this post. We thank you for your patience on ceremony day. We are all volunteers and trying our hardest to make everything go smoothly. The focus of the day is our veterans.