By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – Families of fallen veterans will have the opportunity once again to honor their loved ones at the Wreaths Across America Ceremony at the Alabama National Cemetery in December.

This year, however, a greater demand exists for people to sponsor wreaths that will be placed at every grave in the cemetery.

“The cemetery has really grown at a more rapid rate this year than in prior years because of awareness and the fact that we have more eligible veterans, and their families are opting for burial in the National Cemetery,” said Pam Nichols, chairwoman of the Support Committee for the Alabama National Cemetery, who, with the support of the Civil Air Patrol and Blue Star Salute Foundation, has planned and coordinated the ceremony to lay live Maine balsam wreaths on each grave since the cemetery opened in 2008. “What has now become an honored tradition and one of the most well-attended ceremonies at the cemetery will prove to be more of a challenge each year. In order to have enough wreaths for all of the graves, we need financial support.”

Nichols said about 6,000 wreaths will be needed for the ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m., a substantial increase from the 4,500 wreaths needed for the 2017 ceremony.

The cost of each wreath is $15, which means it will take nearly $90,000 to provide wreaths for all of the graves this year.

“In spite of this large goal, if every grateful Alabamian in the area with the financial means to do so will sponsor just one wreath, we can reach our goal easily,” Nichols said. “After all, we owe these men and women our way of life, and need never forget their sacrifices for us.”

The holiday wreaths symbolize honor to those who have served and are serving in the armed forces and to their families who endure sacrifices every day, Nichols said. It’s also a way to teach young people to understand the freedoms they enjoy have come with a cost.

All wreath sponsors as well as family members of those buried within the cemetery are invited and strongly encouraged to attend and participate in the wreath-laying ceremony.

The keynote speaker of the ceremony will be retired U.S. Army Capt. Gary Michael Rose, who was awarded the Medal of Honor last year for his heroism during the Vietnam War.

Master of Ceremonies will be WBRC FOX6 news anchor Janice Rogers.

Those laying wreaths for each military branch are:

• Marines – Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rivers, parents of Lance Cpl. Thomas Rivers Jr., the first service member killed in action to be buried in the Alabama National Cemetery.
• Air Force – Charlie and Andrew Bourland, sons of Lt. Col. Kenneth Bourland, who was killed during an earthquake in Haiti.
• Army – David Blount, brother of the late 2nd Lt. Matthew Blount, namesake of American Legion Matthew Blount Post 555.
• Coast Guard – Janice Hamilton, widow of Seaman Recruit Bernard Hamilton.
• Merchant Marines – Thomas McCulloch Sr., a World War II U.S. Merchant Marine veteran.
• POW/MIA – Mr. Newton Duke, a Korean War prisoner of war for 27 months.

For more information on Wreaths Across America at the Alabama National Cemetery, go to Scalnc.org/programs-alabama-national-cemetery.html#waa. To help sponsor wreaths for the ALNC, make checks or money orders payable to BSSFI, for: Wreaths Across America and mail before Nov. 27 to BSSFI, P.O. Box 203, Harpersville, AL 35078.