TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony is set for Saturday at noon at the Tallahassee National Cemetery to honor fallen service members and veterans. <\/p>\n
The event will serve as an educational event for cadets in the Tallahassee Composite Squadron of the Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol as they will assist with placing wreaths and serve as color guard.\u00a0More than 5,200 more ceremonies are set to take place across the country on Saturday.\u00a0Watch the video below to learn what the ceremony means for the volunteers and organizers behind the local ceremony in Tallahassee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018That’s kind of why I do this\u2019: Tallahassee to honor veterans with Wreaths Across America ceremony Saturday<\/p>\n
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:<\/p>\n
Collection for Wreaths Across America in Tallahassee takes all year, and for cadets with the Tallahassee Composite Squadron of the Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol<\/a>, so does preparation.<\/p>\n Commander Amy Mitchell says the non-profit, volunteer sector of the U.S. Air Force\u00a0is made up of youth and senior members aged 12 and older.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have cadets who will be out here serving as the color guard for the event. We also have cadets who will be serving as wreath attendants,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Wreaths Across America<\/a> is one of their most educational volunteer events of the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Around Christmas time, the effort honors fallen heroes and veterans by laying wreaths over their headstones at the Tallahassee National Cemetery and saying their names.\u00a0<\/p>\n More than 5,200 ceremonies like this will take place across the country this year.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an opportunity for our cadets to come out to meet veterans from all across the country, to meet families who have been impacted by military service, and to learn what has been given so that they have the freedoms and the rights that they have now,\u201d Mitchells said.<\/p>\n Community sponsors paid about $17 for each wreath.<\/p>\n Locally, 4,581 wreaths were sponsored.\u00a0<\/p>\n That’s about 1,500 more than last year’s total.<\/p>\n \u201cThe process actually began in 1992 when Morrill Worcester of the Worcester Wreath Company in Columbia Falls, Maine had an overrun of wreaths\u2026he called Arlington cemetery\u2026 and they let him come out and they laid 5,000 wreaths,\u201d Capt. Wayne Hooks, the Wreaths Across America location coordinator for the Tallahassee National cemetery said.<\/p>\n Despite its humble beginnings, the event draws hundreds of neighbors each year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really is a very solemn event,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cI have two children who are cadets in the program and they kind of describe it as one of their favorite events because of the impact it has on the community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s kind of why I do this,\u201d Hooks said. \u201cIf we choose to honor that person, they have the potential for immortality. I\u2019m trying to get these guys immortality.\u201d<\/p>\n The official wreath ceremony starts at noon this Saturday at the Tallahassee National Cemetery.\u00a0Neighbors are encouraged to arrive early.\u00a0<\/p>\n Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. <\/a><\/p>\n Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n Like us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram <\/a>and X.<\/a><\/p>\n