A new, star-spangled tradition is forming to honor hundreds of local veterans.
For the second time in as many years, the Daughters of the American Revolution-Michael Trebert Chapter group is coordinating and hosting Wreaths Across America — an event that sees veterans honored with special balsam branch wreaths at about 3,000 events nation-wide — at Sequim View Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 18.
“This annual event seeks to further the WAA mission of Remember, Honor, Teach, ensuring that the memory of those who served our country endures,” organizers said.
The community is invited to help honor those veterans. Sequim’s ceremony starts at 11 a.m. and includes a presentation from guest speaker Commander Joan Snaith, USCG Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles, posting of colors by the Port Angeles High School NJROTC Color Guard, flag line by the Clallam County Legion Riders and a gun salute from the Mt. Olympus Detachment Marine Corps League.
Master of ceremonies is Greta Christianson, a Michael Trebert Chapter NSDAR junior member.
The event also includes a fly-over of a restored 1944 Piper L-4H Aircraft flown by Sequim pilot David Woodcock, a retired captain (U.S. Air Force).
The wreath-laying is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Veterans representing the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corp, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Merchant Marine, U.S. Space Force and POW/MIA individuals will lead the wreath-laying.
Similar ceremonies will take place at five other Sequim-area cemeteries, including:
• Blue Mountain Cemetery, 1494 Blue Mountain Road, Port Angeles — 9 a.m.
• Dungeness Cemetery, 2153 Lotzgesell Road, Sequim — Noon
• Gardiner Community Cemetery, 137 Gardiner Cemetery Road, Gardiner — Noon
• Zacardo Family Cemetery, Blyn Cemetery, Blyn (private ceremony)
• Jamestown Tribal Cemetery, Jamestown Road, Sequim (private ceremony)
Ceremonial wreaths will also be placed at Pioneer Memorial Park, St. Luke Episcopal Church’s columbarium, Sequim Museum & Arts, and the Northwest Veterans Resource Center in Port Angeles.
Local groups raised funds throughout the year to purchase more than 950 wreaths that arrived in Sequim on Dec. 13.
Event organizers are looking at expanding the event to cover Port Angeles and Forks next year.
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. See wreathsacrossamerica.org.
