The Lake Oconee Elks Lodge 2849 participated in Wreaths Across America on Dec. 16 at three locations: Greensboro City Cemetery, the Lake Oconee Elks Lodge Veterans Wall, and the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville.
Wreaths Across America's motto is 'Remember the Fallen, Honor those who Serve, and Teach our children the value of freedom.” Each year, volunteers gather at more than 4,200 participating locations nationwide to honor U.S. veterans and active-duty service members. Each wreath represents a gift of appreciation from a grateful America.
The Wreaths Across America Ceremony at the Greensboro City Cemetery began at 9 a.m. with Lake Oconee Lodge member Bill Lewis leading the ceremony. Chaplain Bob Pluta said the opening prayer, followed by a moment of silence before the Civil Air Patrol Color Guard (Rhys Postlmayr, Mason Honea, Rylee Oyler, and Alden Postlmayr) presented the colors.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Scott Deering sang the National Anthem. Lewis then gave opening remarks and led the placing of the ceremonial wreaths. Boy Scout Troop 30 helped to place some of the wreaths while some of the veterans attending placed others.
The ceremonial wreaths honor the eight branches of the military: Army, Marine Corps., Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and the POW Flag. Deering sang “Amazing Grace” and Lewis gave his closing remarks, followed by Dan Jones and Warren Weatherford playing echo taps. The Civil Air Patrol Color Guard then retired the colors.
There were about 35 people, including the Civil Air Patrol and Boy Scout Troop 30, who helped lay 260 wreaths throughout the cemetery on veterans’ graves. Among those were 11 killed-in-action veterans, 45 unknown soldiers, and 204 veterans from all military branches.
The Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Lake Oconee Lodges' Veterans Wall began at 10:30 a.m. with Lake Oconee Lodge President Mary Zachary leading the ceremony before leading the placing of ceremonial wreaths with lodge members who were attending doing the honors. Bill Fleming played taps and lodge members laid the additional wreaths around the wall.
At the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville, the Wreaths Across America ceremony began at noon. Since it is a national cemetery, the ceremony is conducted by people from the Wreaths Across America organization, much as the ones described above but with hundreds of wreaths placed. It is an awesome sight to see rows upon rows of wreaths and provides a very moving experience.
Lake Oconee had 11 volunteers who helped put out the many wreaths that were donated from all over the country to various cemeteries. Between its three locations, Lake Oconee donated 357 wreaths, reflecting the Elks's motto: “So long as there are Veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.”