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Wreaths Across America
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: December 2024
Veterans and their tremendous sacrifices will receive the honors that they deserve from a grateful Plateau – noon, December 14, in Highlands.
The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony will once again bring the Highlands community together to honor and remember the sacrifices of our nation’s veterans. Scheduled for Saturday, December 14, at Noon, the ceremony will take place at the Highlands Community Building at 869 North 4th Street. After the ceremony, volunteers will be shuttled to Highlands Cemetery, across from Little Bear Pen on Memorial Park Drive, to lay wreaths on gravesites of our local veterans.
Phil Potts, a fifth-generation Highlander and the dedicated organizer of the local Wreaths Across America ceremony for the past eight years, encourages the community to join in this meaningful tribute.
“Walking those hills and placing those wreaths is a labor of love,” says Potts. “We locate each grave, and as the wreath is placed, we say their name, their service, and repeat, ‘they are never forgotten.’”
Witnessing the powerful act of honoring fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery inspired Potts to bring Wreaths Across America to Highlands, creating an opportunity for the local community to participate in this nationwide memorial.
This year’s theme, “Live with Purpose,” resonates deeply with the Highlands community, reminding participants of the importance of honoring the legacy of those who served. The ceremony includes the presentation of nine ceremonial wreaths, each representing a branch of service: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Marine, Coast Guard, Space Force, and POW/MIA. After the ceremony, students and volunteers will place additional wreaths on graves, aiming to cover over 500 resting places at Highlands and surrounding cemeteries, including Scaly Methodist, Scaly Baptist, Horse Cove, Macedonia, Clear Creek, Buck Creek, Mt. Moriah, and Miller. Family members and volunteers are also invited to place wreaths in smaller family cemeteries over the weekend.
The wreaths themselves are symbols of respect and remembrance, each crafted from ten evergreen bouquets representing qualities shared by veterans: faith, love, strength, honesty, humility, ambition, optimism, concern, pride, and hopes and dreams. The circular design reflects eternity, and the hand-tied red bow serves as a tribute to the sacrifices made by these brave individuals.
To sponsor a wreath for $17 or to learn more, scan the qr code below.
Sponsorship forms are also available at Highlands United Methodist Church, Highlands Recreation Park, and Highlands Decorating Center.
