Volunteers Needed to Lay Wreaths at Sarasota National Cemetery
Thanks to every person, group and organization who sponsored and donated towards the Wreaths Across America program for our Sarasota National Cemetery. This means this December and January, Every Hero will Have a Wreath for the 9th Year in a Row at our Sarasota National Cemetery
Sarasota's Wreaths Across American coordinator Meshia Richardson. says...“Our mission is to ensure that over 22,000 of our military members,(over 16,000 headstones) their spouses and their qualified dependents interred there will be honored again this year with the placement of live balsam wreaths.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Wreaths Across America is moving ahead with the December tradition of remembering every Hero and grave by placing a wreath at our Sarasota National Cemetery.
Placing Wreaths, will be different this Year...
This years, Wreaths Across America will be observed on 3 days, instead of just one. Those three days are: Thursday December 17th, Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th. Because of the pandemic, there will be NO public ceremony in 2020. Instead, there will be a virtual ceremony, posted online Saturday, December 19th, via social media, YouTube and other websites.
How it Will Be Done this Year...
To help keep people safe... Wreaths will be distributed to each vehicle at a registration check in at the Cemetery.. No more than six people per larger vehicle will be permitted on cemetery grounds. Drivers will be directed to a pre-designated section where they will lay their wreaths. As each wreath is placed, participants will say the veteran’s name and thank them for their service and their sacrifice.
Special Times have been reserved ONLY for family members to place wreaths, on each of the says (Dec, 17, 18th and 19th).
Families should email the Wreath Coordinator for Sarasota National Cemetery, Meshia Richardson at: sarasotawreaths@gmail.com . When you email, have your loved one’s name, branch of service and section number, if known, so that the location will be reserved for YOUR family only.
If you do not have a loved one at The Sarasota National Cemetery, but would like to volunteer to Lay Wreaths... Volunteers, can register to help, by selecting a date and time slot, to place wreaths on the website: https://sarasotawreaths.com/
ALL Families and volunteers, MUST pre-register this year to place wreaths. There are morning and afternoon slots open on all 3 days, December 17th, 18th and 19th.