Volunteers sought to help Medina lay 1,000 wreaths on veterans’ graves on Dec. 17

Photos by Tom Rivers: This float in Medina’s Parade of Lights was created by the “Medina Misfits” who are led by Tom Snyder, a seven-year veteran of the Navy and owner of Medina Lumber and Hardware. Snyder gave a sizable donation to allow for 1,000 wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves in Medina cemeteries on Dec. 17.

MEDINA – A generous donation by a Medina businessman and Navy veteran will result in 1,000 wreaths being placed in Boxwood, St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart Cemeteries on Dec. 17, Wreaths Across America Day.

When Kathy Blackburn, president of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery, started Wreaths Across American in 2013 in Medina, her goal was to have a wreath for every veteran in the three cemeteries.

The American Legion and VFW joined in a Wreaths Across America ceremony honoring veterans on Dec. 18, 2021 at Boxwood Cemetery. Pictured from left include Dave Morien, Dave Berry and Dave Wells. There were 315 wreaths in Medina last year for Wreaths Across America.

This year that goal will come close to being realized with the purchase of 1,000 wreaths to be placed in the three cemeteries.

This is a big jump from the seven free wreaths received the first year and the 315 purchased last year.

The reason for the big increase this year is the donation from Medina businessman Tom Snyder, a seven-year veteran of the Navy and owner of Medina Lumber and Hardware.

Wreaths Across America Day is the third Saturday in December. After last year’s observance on Dec. 18, the national organization announced that anyone who bought a wreath for 2022 would get two for the price of one, as long as the purchase was made within 30 days of Dec. 18.

An unspecified number have still been purchased by individual donations from the community, but Snyder’s donation allowed Medina to more than triple the number of wreaths for veterans’ graves in the three cemeteries.

The challenge now is to get volunteers to lay the wreaths in the Dec. 17 ceremony, Blackburn said. She is asking school groups, Scouts, civic organizations, churches, clubs and families to come out and help with this project to honor all of the area’s veterans. She reminds everyone to wear warm clothing, boots and mittens.

Those who want to volunteer to place a wreath can call Blackburn at (585) 734-5801.

A short ceremony will begin at noon at Boxwood Cemetery and then the wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves.

To sponsor a wreath for $15, log on to www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.