Last year, the recently opened Northwoods National Cemetery held a virtual Wreaths Across America ceremony.
Saturday, Mary A. Ingman is looking forward to welcoming people for its first in-person ceremony.
“It’s always nice to have the public there and involved, especially when we’re honoring and remembering our veterans,” she said.
Ingman is the location co-coordinator for Wreaths Across America at Northwoods National Cemetery in Harshaw.
Family and volunteers will lay wreaths at more than 90 gravesites starting at 10:30 Saturday morning.
“When we place these wreaths on their gravesites, I think it’s really important for people to understand that we’re not decorating their graves,” said Ingman. “We’re there to remember, not their deaths, but their lives. Our whole mission is of course to remember our fallen United States veterans, to honor those who have served, and of course to teach our children that value of our freedom.”
The public is invited to come out for a ceremony at 11:00 a.m.
The ceremony will include a guest speaker, a local color guard, and a ceremonial laying of 8 wreaths, one for each branch of the military and one for prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Ingman says it’s an honor to be able to have a National Cemetery in the Northwoods and to host a Wreaths Across America ceremony.
“There aren’t very many National Cemeteries in Wisconsin to begin with, then to have the honor of having one in the Northwoods, in our beautiful Northwoods. It’s really, really incredible,” she said.
Parking is limited at the cemetery. Ingman asks people to carpool if they’re able.
Masking and social distancing is required for those not fully vaccinated.
And the ceremony is all outdoors, so people should dress prepared for the weather.
