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REEDSVILLE -- When it comes to laying wreaths on the graves to honor those veterans who have served their country, Cheryl Swineford describes the importance of the event with three words: Remember, honor and teach.
Gearhart, a volunteer with Wreaths Across America, was one of 50 volunteers who came out to the Church Hill Cemetery in Reedsville to take part in the event Saturday.
The wreaths were placed on graves "in memory of those no longer with us and honor those who are still with us," Swineford explained.
Saturday was National Wreaths Across America Day. The event remembers and honors veterans by laying wreaths on the graves of the country's fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud.
A total of 169 wreaths were placed in the Church Hill Cemetery. "We were not only blessed with a beautiful day to carry out the task, but several volunteers both experienced and new to assist," Swineford said.
The Mifflin County group was one of more than 4,225 groups that participated across the country, including Arlington National Cemetery, to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families and teach the next generation the value of freedom.
The groups combined to place a total of three million wreaths on veterans' graves on Saturday.
"What I love most about this day, and this mission, is that it is so much more than just the placement of a wreath. The wreath is the catalyst, it brings together communities – families and strangers — to learn about those who have served and sacrificed," said Karen Worcester, executive director Wreaths Across America, in a statement. "We have more than three million volunteers across the country and a third of them are children. This mission and the events happening today provide the opportunity to teach kids about what freedom is."
For centuries, fresh evergreens have been used to symbolize honor and a living tribute renewed annually.
Swineford has been involved with the initiative since 2016.
"It was after a friend had posted pictures on social media of participating at Arlington," she recalled. "In 2017 I drove to Portage, Pa., with a friend Beverly Smith to participate in laying wreaths. In 2018, I drove to Lewisburg with two friends, Beverly Smith and Kathy Nace to participate.
"The reason we started this group is because it's a way to say thank you for our freedom and to never forget those who have served," she added. "I have several family members who have served in the service and Kathy's son was in the service."
Eventually, Swineford and Nace - along with a small group of friends - got organized in the Juniata Valley in 2019.
"We have fundraisers throughout the year to help purchase the wreaths," Swineford said of the wreaths, which cost $17 each. "Due to the sizes of most cemeteries, it takes us several years to complete one, we do a section at a time until we have completed. Once we have completed the current cemetery, we will choose another cemetery. Our goal is to lay wreaths at each cemetery in Mifflin County at least once."
The 2024 event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14.
For more information or to make a donation for next year, e-mail Swineford at seabreeze20@verizon.net. They will be holding a planning meeting in January and welcome new volunteers.