By CLAIRE SANT
BG Independent News
The Eastwood community established its own Wreaths Across America chapter six years ago, shortly after Chad and Victoria Albright returned to the area from Virginia.
Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit that coordinates the placement of wreaths on veterans’ graves each December. More than 4,000 communities take part each year to ensure service members are honored.
Amy Miller, a committee volunteer for the Eastwood chapter, has spent the past four years helping grow the effort, When the chapter began in 2019, it placed just 180 wreaths.
“It’s since grown from 180 wreaths in 2019, to over 2,000. Just in seven years, we’ve really made a huge jump,” Miller said.
The Eastwood chapter now covers eight cemeteries within the school district area and hopes to include the ninth, Rest Lawn, next year.
“It would allow us to honor every veteran buried in the Eastwood school district, and that’s kind of been the ultimate goal,” she said.
For Miller, the tradition is personal.
“Every year, I get to go to the Troy Township Cemetery and we get to lay the wreaths on my grandpa and uncle’s tombstones,” she said. “You can see the evergreen wreaths placed in all the graves with their bright red bows. It truly does make an impact on everyone.”
Wreaths are placed in December and removed by volunteers in February to ensure cemeteries and graves remain well kept.
Wreaths are sponsored, donated and placed by community members. Donations can be made year-round and roll over if they exceed the annual deadline.
“We will take any and all donations now until forever,” Miller said.
How to sponsor a wreath
Online: Sponsor wreaths at Wreaths Across America
By mail: Complete a sponsorship form and send it with a check payable to “Wreaths Across America” to: P.O. Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623.
In person: Provide cash or a check payable to “Wreaths Across America” to any Eastwood Key Club member or drop it off at the Eastwood High School office.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, chapters across the country will lay wreaths to honor U.S. veterans. Community members who wish to participate should meet at the Eastwood High School Auditorium at 9:45 a.m. for a brief ceremony at 10 a.m. Participants should plan to drive themselves to an Eastwood cemetery of their choosing.
