Members of a local civic organization recently took part in a national remembrance of those who dedicated their lives to military service.

  In November, the Andrew McBride Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution voted to donate 10 wreaths to Wreaths Across America, and several members also signed up to participate in the December event. Local DAR Regent, Kim Osborne, said the goal of Wreaths Across America is to place a wreath on the grave of every military veteran during the month of December. “Veterans from the Revolutionary War to present-day conflicts are remembered,” said Osborne. “Laying a wreath at a veteran’s grave is a way to remember and to express our appreciation for the sacrifices that individual made to preserve our freedoms. It is a very moving experience and an opportunity to put everything in one’s life aside to think about how blessed we are as a nation, and to remember that the freedoms we enjoy are due to the sacrifices of these courageous men and women.”

  Last month, DAR members placed the wreaths on veterans’ graves at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville and the Andersonville National Cemetery in Andersonville. Families, Boy Scouts, ROTC groups, VFW, the American Legion, and the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group also assisted in laying wreaths. Hundreds of people gathered for the occasion, decorating more than 3,000 veterans’ graves with red and green balsam wreaths.

  “The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has been a corporate sponsor of Wreaths Across America for some time and also supports the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit, which travels around the country to various events and schools,” said Osborne. “The mission of the DAR is to promote patriotism, preserve American history and to secure America’s future by supporting education for children. Wreaths Across America shares a similar mission, creating a natural partnership between the two organizations.”

  Wreaths Across America, formed in 2007, is a nonprofit organization which operates with a mission to “remember, honor, and teach” the public about the sacrifices of veterans. The organization currently has 2,100 participating locations across the United States, at sea and abroad.