DUANE SHERRILLEditor

The local Girl Scout troop is urging Tullahomans to make their donations to support Wreaths Across America to help them continue their patriotic mission in honoring America’s veterans – with donations prior to Jan. 14 being doubled.

According to Greg Gressel, leader of Troop 2163, the troop laid 323 wreaths in Tullahoma at the graves of veterans. There were also three wreaths laid at the graves of Civil War veterans. In Coffee County, ceremonies were held at Hurricane Grove and Fredonia as well as at the Coffee County Courthouse, Maplewood and Oakwood Cemetery in Tullahoma and Beech Grove Confederate Cemetery. The Jack Daniel’s Brave Employee Group held a wreath ceremony in Lynchburg.

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that honors veterans, active-duty military, and their families by placing wreaths on their graves. Wreaths Across America Day is a day in December when volunteers place wreaths on veterans’ graves and say their names out loud. The day takes place on the second or third Saturday of December at more than 4,200 locations across the United States. Its mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the value of freedom. The organization was founded in 2007 by Morrill Worcester, a wreath producer, with the help of veterans and truckers. The organization’s founder and his family began placing wreaths in Arlington National Cemetery in 1992 as a way to thank service members.

Gressel noted that to get matching funds for donations, the contributions must be received by Jan. 14. You may make your checks to Wreaths Across America and put Maplewood in the memo. Give the checks directly to Greg Gressel or drop them at the South Jackson Performing Arts Center. From there they will be sent through the Coffee County group to National Headquarters. He noted that donations before the Jan. 14 are greatly helpful as without the doubling the troop will have to work twice as hard to raise funds for this year’s wreaths – the effort costing several thousand dollars each year.

The local Girl Scout troop is urging Tullahomans to make their donations to support Wreaths Across America to help them continue their patriotic mission in honoring America’s veterans – with donations prior to Jan. 14 being doubled.According to Greg Gressel, leader of Troop 2163, the troop laid 323 wreaths in Tullahoma at the graves of veterans. There were also three wreaths laid at the graves of Civil War veterans. In Coffee County, ceremonies were held at Hurricane Grove and Fredonia as well as at the Coffee County Courthouse, Maplewood and Oakwood Cemetery in Tullahoma and Beech Grove Confederate Cemetery. The Jack Daniel’s Brave Employee Group held a wreath ceremony in Lynchburg.Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that honors veterans, active-duty military, and their families by placing wreaths on their graves. Wreaths Across America Day is a day in December when volunteers place wreaths on veterans’ graves and say their names out loud. The day takes place on the second or third Saturday of December at more than 4,200 locations across the United States. Its mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the value of freedom. The organization was founded in 2007 by Morrill Worcester, a wreath producer, with the help of veterans and truckers. The organization’s founder and his family began placing wreaths in Arlington National Cemetery in 1992 as a way to thank service members.Gressel noted that to get matching funds for donations, the contributions must be received by Jan. 14. You may make your checks to Wreaths Across America and put Maplewood in the memo. Give the checks directly to Greg Gressel or drop them at the South Jackson Performing Arts Center. From there they will be sent through the Coffee County group to National Headquarters. He noted that donations before the Jan. 14 are greatly helpful as without the doubling the troop will have to work twice as hard to raise funds for this year’s wreaths – the effort costing several thousand dollars each year.