The Christmas season is a time of gift giving, parties, family gatherings, and remembering. That time of remembering for many this year included participating in the Wreath Laying Ceremony held Saturday, December 14 at Sunset Memorial Park. Local citizens joined solders from Fort Lee, the Thomas Dale High School lacrosse Teams, American Heritage Girls Troop VA 1024, and Girl Scout Troops 475 and 26 to place 700 wreaths on the graves of veterans interred at Sunset.
First time volunteer, Katie Gettings, attended the ceremony with her three young sons. “I wanted my boys to be here,” Katie said, “They need to be a part of things like this that honor our military and our veterans.”
Other volunteers like Kim Radcliff and her daughter, Hailey, attend every year. “Being here and laying the wreaths has become a part of our Christmas tradition,” Kim said, “This is a good way for us to stop and think about the sacrifices of others.”
The wreath laying ceremony at Sunset is part of the nationwide Wreaths Across America Wreath Laying Ceremony that is held every year on the second Saturday of December and is open to all who wish to participate.
