Wreaths Across America begins at 9 a.m. Saturday

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

Coinciding with events at the Arlington National Cemetery and other locations across the nation, the Nevada Veterans Coalition will host this year’s celebration of Wreaths Across America beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley.

The annual event begins at 9 a.m., to coincide with the noon start at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Visitors will lay wreaths throughout the cemetery on headstones and along the columbarium to honor each of the veterans buried and interred there.

Wreaths will be staged in boxes throughout the cemetery. Family members who are there to place a wreath on the grave of a relative go first, then the general public can place wreaths on the rest of the graves.

During the Fernley ceremony, representatives for the specific military services along with a Sea Cadet will place a wreath at a flag associated with that specific branch of the armed forces. Cadets assist with the ceremony and also help afterward by placing wreaths on the individual gravesites.

The wreaths are purchased by the Nevada Veterans Coalition with funds received through donations and other fundraising efforts by the Coalition. The Coalition has been able to raise enough money to place a wreath on every grave in the cemetery every year since 2014.

Coffee, cocoa and pastries will provided by Nevada Veterans Coalition volunteers.