News
Wreaths Across America 2018
St. Luke's University Health Network is once again taking part in "Wreaths Across America," a national program dedicated to honoring deceased veterans by laying Christmas wreaths at the graves of veterans throughout the country. St. Luke’s will sponsor a local event at Resurrection Cemetery in Wescosville, joining the more than 1700 wreath-laying events taking place simultaneously throughout the country on Saturday, December 14th at noon.
Participating in Wreaths Across America is one of the many veteran events St. Luke’s sponsors locally. “Many of our employees are veterans or have close family members who have served and died for our country,” says Jason Andrews, project manager, executive administration, St. Luke’s University Health Network. “It’s important for the entire St. Luke’s community to remember and honor our veterans through events like this.”
Wreaths Across America began with the mission, “Remember, Honor and Teach.” It started in 1992 at Arlington National Cemetery after the Worcester Wreath Company in Maine found themselves with a surplus of 5,000 holiday wreaths and decided to use them to pay tribute to our country’s fallen heroes buried at Arlington. From there, the tradition grew and continued, always with the goal of honoring as well as educating about the sacrifices made by service men and women through history. Last year, nearly 1.8 million wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves in 1,640 locations.
“We feel strongly about the organization’s mission to teach young people about the sacrifices made for our freedom, so we try to get young people involved in this event – to teach the next generation to be aware and appreciative of the sacrifices our service members make and have made throughout history,” continues Andrews. The event will include patriotic readings and song selections performed by the children’s choir from St. Joseph the Worker in Orefield and students from other local schools.
Wreaths Across America events are supported nationally by nearly 4,000 fundraising groups and two million volunteers; local groups supporting the St. Luke’s Resurrection Cemetery event including Central Catholic High School, the Knights of Columbus, Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of America, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Blue Star Mothers - Lehigh Valley chapter, Macungie Police and Fire Department, Air Products, Air Products Retirees and more.
St. Luke’s invites anyone who wants to remember family or friends who have served our country to sponsor a wreath or participate in the ceremony. For more information on the National Wreaths Across America Day, visit www.Wreathsacrossamerica.org/pa0353.
