Wreaths Across America brings visitors to National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
CECIL – “It’s important to remember.”
That’s why Philip Siebert, a Wexford resident, was out in the late-morning chill at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil Township Saturday. Siebert, who is himself an Air Force veteran, was one of hundreds of people around the region who converged on the cemetery for veterans and their families for Wreaths Across America, a nationwide event that has volunteers, friends and family placing wreaths with red bows on the graves of veterans.
All told, more than 4,000 locations across the country participated in Wreaths Across America this year, and more than 300 of those locations were in Pennsylvania. In the Pittsburgh area, the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies has been a focal point of activity on the federally declared National Wreaths Across America Day, and this year was no exception. Cars began snaking into the cemetery more than two hours before the noon start, and shuttle buses from Southpointe delivered additional participants.
“It’s a beautiful ceremony,” said Larry Mutschler, who traveled to the cemetery from Economy in Beaver County with his wife, Audrey.
Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit with origins that date back to 1992, when Morrill Worcester, the owner of a Maine wreath company, donated 5,000 surplus wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery so they could be placed on the graves of veterans there. Wreaths Across America became a nonprofit organization in 2007.
As of 2022, more than 2 million volunteers had been enlisted to place more than 2 million wreaths on graves throughout the life of Wreaths Across America. Along with everyday people and friends and family, some of the volunteers come from veterans groups, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and students.