National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, Dec. 16th.  We will place sponsored Remembrance Wreaths on Veteran’s graves at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.  **INSTRUCTIONS:  

DRESS ACCORDINGLY:  It’s held rain, snow or shine.  Wear WARM comfortable boots, hats, gloves and scarves.  It’s always windy there.  

PARKING:  There is NO parking at the cemetery or on the Ft Indiantown Gap military base that day.  Park (free) at four locations and take a shuttle bus.  Buses start at 10am and run continuous loops to and from the cemetery memorial.  

HANDICAP PARKING with a handicapped-capable shuttle is available off I-81 Exit 85-B, at the Emmanuel Church.  Go past the cemetery, turn left onto Asher Miner Rd, left onto Boundary Rd, and follow signs to the church.  

RED PARKING:  At Memorial Lake State Park, off I-81 Exit 85-B, past the cemetery, turn left onto Asher Miner Rd and follow signs.  

BLUE PARKING:  At Ingram Micro, 80 Micro Dr, Jonestown, and CEVA Logistics, 100 MSC Dr, Jonestown, off of I-81 Exit 90.  Remember which lot you parked in to take the right bus back!

FREE SHUTTLES (school buses) to/from the cemetery begin at 10am.  Arrive early at the parking lot to take a bus to the cemetery Memorial in time for the 12:00 noon ceremony, which lasts about an hour.  Afterward, volunteers walk to cemetery sections to lay the stacks of wreaths.   

WREATH LAYING INSTRUCTIONS:  Take one wreath, follow the other volunteers to the next headstone. Clean leaves, debris, snow or ice from the marker, say the veterans name out loud, thank him or her for their service and, if you like, say a prayer for them and place the wreath with the bow at the top.  If it’s an upright headstone, lean the wreath against it but don’t cover the name.  If it is a flat grave marker, lay the wreath flat and centered on the marker.  Fix the bow as needed, pause, then return to get another wreath.  If a grave already has a wreath, move to the next one, NEVER move a wreath that has already been placed.  If a grave marker has a Star of David, signifying that veteran is of the Jewish faith, we are instructed to honor him as normal but do NOT place a wreath.  Once that section is completed you can go to another section.  Please remember, this is a solemn place, no running around or yelling.  Talking is fine.  

If we don’t meet the 45,000 goal, volunteers are asked to visit the graves without a wreath.  We’re there to show those late veterans and their families that we Remember them and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.  It is a rewarding experience.  With so many volunteers it only takes a couple hours, I encourage you to participate.  

It’d be great to get a group photo.  Some of us often go for a midday meal afterward and we welcome you to join us.  If you have any questions let me know.   

Teresa Baker CVCC Wreaths Across America, chairperson