Volunteers, donations requested for wreaths at veterans’ graves in Medina

Photo by Tom Rivers: Chloe Luxon, 9, of Medina carries two wreaths up the hill at Boxwood Cemetery to be placed on veterans’ graves during Wreaths Across America on Dec. 18, 2021. This year’s event will take place on Dec. 16 at thousands of locations across the country, including  three cemeteries in Medina: Boxwood, St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart cemeteries.

MEDINA – The annual Wreaths Across America is scheduled this year on Dec. 16, when wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves in thousands of locations across the country.

In Medina, the ceremony will take place at noon at Boxwood Cemetery, followed by placing wreaths in Boxwood and also St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart cemeteries.

Kathy Blackburn, who heads the project each year, is requesting donations to purchase wreaths in memory of our area’s veterans.

Wreaths this year cost $27 and donations may be made by logging on to Wreaths Across America and clicking on “Boxwood.” Checks designated for Wreaths Across America may also be mailed to the village clerk at 119 Park Ave., Medina, or dropped off during business hours.

Wreaths Across America was started in 1992 by a wreath producer in Maine, who found himself with an abundance of wreaths nearing the end of his season. He arranged for volunteer truckers to transport them to Arlington National Cemetery, and the movement mushroomed from there.

Last year, more than 2.7 million wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves in 3,702 locations across the country.

Blackburn started the project in Medina in 20143after Shirley Whittleton brought it up at a Boxwood Commission meeting. Medina started with the original seven wreaths which were sent to anyone requesting them – one for each branch of the military and one for POW/MIAs.

Since then, the movement has grown to dynamic proportions in Medina. Last year, local businessman Tom Snyder stepped up to purchase 800 wreaths to cover every veteran’s grave in Boxwood, St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart cemeteries.

Snyder, a Navy veteran who served from 1991 to 1998 and was with Special Forces in Central America, has also agreed to be a generous sponsor of the wreaths this year, in addition to supporting a similar project at the Veterans’ National Cemetery in Pembroke.

Volunteers are also being sought to help lay the wreaths. Scout groups, students needing volunteer hours or anyone wishing to participate is urged to contact Blackburn to volunteer by calling (585) 734-5801.