Your help is needed to cover Wood National Cemetery Milwaukee and Wisconsin Southern Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Union Grove with wreaths every December to say...

Thank You for giving your life to Protect me.

Always Remember  is a local sponsor for Wreaths Across America (WAA) whose Mission is to Remember, Honor, Teach,  carried out by working with Location Coordinators coordinating wreath laying ceremonies on a specified Saturday in December at all National and many State Cemeteries.   

In time, we also hope to organize a week of events preceding National Wreaths Across America Day. Possibly a "Veteran's Parade" when the wreaths are about to be delivered. The message must be spread about "the importance of remembering our fallen heroes, honoring those who serve, and teaching our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms." (WAA Mission & Vision, nd.)

All our "events are made possible by hundreds of volunteers who organize the local ceremonies, raise funds to sponsor wreaths, and participate in the events. No government funding is received. The cost of our programs is paid by individual wreath sponsors, corporate donors and volunteer truckers." (WAA Mission & Vision, nd.)

As for Wood National Cemetery Milwaukee it has 37,000+ resting within its grounds that runs along East/West 94 in Milwaukee. The cemetery dates back to 1871 and "was established as a final resting place for veterans who died while living at the Northwestern Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. " (Dept. of Interior, nd.) This Branch "was established to care for disabled Union veterans of the Civil War, and the first designed and built specifically for the purpose of housing and caring for veterans. " (Dept. of Interior, nd.) Within its 37,000+ graves are included "members of the first Union unit of African American soldiers and several recipients of the Medal of Honor." (Dept. of Interior, nd.)

 

This year we have taken on raising funds for wreaths to be placed at Wisconsin Southern Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Union Grove also. Since Wood National Cemetery Milwaukee is full and no longer accepting burials, most from the region, if not laid in private cemeteries, are buried at Union Grove, which is a State Cemetery.

Established in 1996 next to the Southern Wisconsin Center campus in Union Grove, Wisconsin, the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery began  accepting burials in September of that year and is currently the 5th busiest State Veterans Cemetery in the country. Currently it has 15,000+ graves (WI Dept. of VA, 2016).

Ultimately Always Remember hopes to coordinate veteran services and recognition through a variety of programs, and provide schools with teaching aides for projects throughout the year.

Remember all Fallen Heroes gave their lives Protecting Our Freedoms and 'inalienable' Rights.

Therefore, can you find it in your heart to help Remember and Honor these Fallen Heroes each National Wreaths Across America Day in December. So when you notice our Banner at a donation-drive, please stop, consider donating, and/or just speak with us about our endeavor or your thoughts. All is appreciated!

Thank you

References:

U.S. Department of the Interior, Retrieved from
https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/national_cemeteries/Wisconsin/Wood_National_Cemetery.html

Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs, Retrieved from http://dva.state.wi.us/Pages/memorialsBurials/SWVMC.aspx

Wreaths Across America, Mission & Vision, Retrieved from  http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/#join-us

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