Sons of the American Revolution looks to expand wreath giving

The Glacier chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution wants to place a wreath on each of the 900 graves at the Montana Veterans Home Cemetery during the holiday season. They can’t do it without donations and participation from the community.

The project looks to make sure fallen troops are remembered and honored at Christmastime in addition to the other holidays throughout the year, Sons of the American Revolution event coordinator Steve Armstrong said.

Last year, they decorated 200 graves at the Veterans’ home. This year the goal for him and his wife, Linnea, is to double that number.

The project is in conjunction with Wreaths Across America. About 20 years ago it placed the first wreaths on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, Armstrong said. Last year, Wreaths Across America helped place about 1 million wreaths at 1,000 cemeteries across the U.S. The indoor ceremony at the Montana Veterans’ Home is Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. The ceremonies across the country are planned for the same moment in time.

At the ceremony in Columbia Falls, wreaths will be presented to the five branches of the military, the veterans missing in action and the prisoners of war. Brigadier General Robert Sparing of the Helena Adjutant General’s Office will speak at the ceremony.

Afterward, a caravan of vehicles will travel from the home to the cemetery to bestow wreaths on the graves. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and help distribute the wreaths.

To donate write to Steve Armstrong at 439 Grand Drive, Bigfork, MT 59911 or email at buyawreath2015@gmail.com.