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Wreaths Across America returns Saturday to honor deceased veterans throughout Putnam County.
Volunteer Coordinator Tracy Chamberland said wreaths will be placed on the graves of veterans across four cemeteries in the area. Chamberland said the organization says people die twice: first when they physically pass away and again when their name is said for the last time.
“So in doing Wreaths Across America, when we go to place that wreath on that grave, we make sure that we say that veteran’s name out loud and then place our wreath so that they are never forgotten,” Chamberland said.
Chamberland said there will be a ceremony before the wreath laying at 11:00am in front of the Putnam County Courthouse. Chamberland said the wreaths will be left at each grave for a month.
“The ceremony we have, we’re honoring, well we tell a little bit about Wreaths Across America, the history of it,” Chamberland said. “We have the ROTC group from Tennessee Tech that will be helping out with our Color Guard. We have a ceremony that shows the meaning of the wreath.”
Chamberland said the event will also feature eight ceremonial wreaths representing different branches of the military and speeches from Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter, Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton, and Army Veteran Jimmy Loftis. Chamberland said no veteran should ever be forgotten because they are the reason behind the nation’s liberty.
“We have veterans in the Cookeville City Cemetery back to World War I, the Civil War,” Chamberland said. “So we cannot forget those men and women that fought for our freedom.”
Chamberland said the organization will get wreaths for every veteran in the Cookeville City Cemetery, Buck Cemetery, Algood Heritage Cemetery, and Crest Lawn Cemetery. Chamberland said the families of the veterans at those cemeteries have shared their appreciation for the recognition in past years.
“Some are brought to tears that their family member is remembered and their names are said so that they aren’t forgotten,” Chamberland said. “Because of course they don’t forget them.”
Chamberland said her goal with the event is to inspire more people in the community to volunteer as location coordinators and adopt a cemetery of their own through Wreaths of America.
