December 18th, 2021 the Central-Clemson Wreaths Across America (WAA) committee will add a ceremony at Memory Gardens at 10 am. and one at Abel-Goldenview cemetery at noon. This will bring the total number of local cemeteries to 9 and bring a wreath needed total to over 800.
One does not have to purchase a wreath to come to a ceremony and lay a wreath. Mayor Halfacre has agreed to participate in the Memory Gardens ceremony. Memory Gardens also sent out a request to their families of Veterans and several purchased wreaths. The wreaths from all the families at all the cemeteries are put into a pool and are not cemetery specific.
All wreaths sponsored through a registered WAA Sponsorship Group (the one Location Coordinator Ann Warmuth manages) will be matched by WAA HQ. All money goes to purchase wreaths. If more wreaths are purchased in 2021 than we have Veterans, the extra wreaths are rolled over to 2022. If you sponsor 2 wreaths for $30, we will receive 3 wreaths!
This link will take you to our Sponsorship Group for Friends of Pickens Cemetery & Central & Clemson SC Cemeteries (SC0164) so that your donations will go to our cemeteries only: Wreathsacrossamerica.org/SC0164
WAA’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington, as well as at veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states. Wreaths Across America (WAA) is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. In 1992 the first wreaths (5,000) at Arlington were donated by Morrill Worcester and Worcester Wreath Co.
Last year, Fresh Maine Balsam Wreaths from the Wreaths Across program were placed on all 365 Veterans graves during seven formal ceremonies on National Wreaths Across America Day, December 19, and later on December 20. The wreaths were donated by the Town of Central, Central Heritage Society, and several generous anonymous donors.
There were 100 volunteers who came to Mt. Zion Cemetery at noon on Saturday to Honor the Veterans-Remember them by saying their names and thanking them for their service- and Teach the children to do the same by having the children place wreaths. Mayor Martin started the ceremony with a letter from Senator Lindsey Graham and then introduced Senator Rex Rice and Representative Gary Clary who laid wreaths. This was an opportunity for Central to come together as families to honor their veterans. Wren High School Navy JROTC was the Honor Guard at Pickens Chapel and at Mt. Zion Cemetery with Clemson C-4 Pershing Rifles giving a 21 Gun Salute at Mt. Zion followed by Wrenn Bugler playing taps. Local Veterans presented the Honor Wreaths for all six branches of the military and a special wreath remembering the POW & Missing Action service members.