Nearly 400 veterans are buried at Riverton City Cemetery and city officials want to ensure each serviceperson receives a wreath on their headstone during the Christmas holiday season. By partnering with Wreaths Across America, Riverton City remembers those who have honorably served their country.

“There are 396 veterans in our cemetery, that’s an additional 30 from last year,” said Riverton Director of Communications and Public Affairs Josh Lee. “A lot of people don’t realize how many more veterans are being buried in our cemetery each year, as they’re passing away. We’re hoping to cover all the veterans’ graves this year, just like we have in the past.”

On Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, Dec. 13, the city will host a short program, followed by volunteers placing community-sponsored handmade wreaths on the graves, in unison with cemeteries nationwide. The ceremony will be held at Riverton City Cemetery (1540 W. 13200 South) at 10 a.m. Wreaths were sponsored by Riverton residents, business owners and city officials for $17 each. 

“I’m impressed with how generous Riverton residents are, and all those who have sponsored wreaths throughout the years,” Lee said. “The program has been fantastic. Riverton City loves doing this. It’s true to the adage that many hands make light work. I’m always impressed at how Riverton residents respond.”

The Wreaths Across America ceremony is a culmination of a year’s worth of events honoring the city’s veterans. Riverton hosts a Memorial Day program in May and a free Veterans Day concert in November to honor and recognize the servicepeople still living in the city. 

Wreaths Across America was started in 1992 by Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Maine. The program was first introduced at Arlington National Cemetery, where volunteers from the American Legion and VFW Posts decorated each wreath with a red ribbon before placing them on the graves in the older part of the cemetery. 

The program stayed local until 2005, when people saw the wreaths at Arlington and wanted to purchase more wreaths to place on more graves. Then, local communities reached out to have ceremonies in their own cemeteries and the Wreaths Across America program was born.

Last December, more than 3 million wreaths were placed on graves to honor the nation’s service members at nearly 5,000 locations. Millions of volunteers helped place wreaths thanks to 7,400 sponsorship groups, along with corporate contributions and donations from the transportation industry to deliver wreaths across the country. To learn more about the organization, visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org. 

“Especially during Christmas and the end of the year, it’s always nice to see the small things that mean so much, especially for the families,” Lee said. “Like those 30 that passed away just within the last year, their family doesn’t have them anymore, and they served their country. I’m sure that this means a lot to a widow who might have lost her husband this year.”

Following a short program, volunteers will place wreaths on 396 graves at Riverton City Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. (Photo courtesy Riverton City)