LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Each year, millions of Americans come together to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families, and teach others about the true value of freedom as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.

This gathering of volunteers and patriots takes place in local, state and national cemeteries in all 50 states – including Hartley Cemetery, Kelseyville Cemetery, Upper Lake Cemetery, Lower Lake Cemetery, Middletown and St. Mary’s Lakeport cemeteries in Lake County.

Each year, a new theme is chosen to help volunteers and supporters focus their messaging and outreach in their own communities.

The theme for this year is “Life With Purpose.”

The choice of this theme is inspired by the stories of volunteers who have made a difference in their communities and is meant to encourage people to make every day count and live with purpose.

This year, National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, Dec. 14.

The event is free and open to the public. The observance will begin at 9 a.m. in all the participating cemeteries in Lake County.

In 2023, there were over three million veteran’s wreaths placed in total across the country at 4,224 locations around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms, with each name said out loud.

“Wreaths Across America volunteers work year-round to ensure military laid to rest are remembered, their families and living veterans are honored, and the next generation is taught about the value of freedom,” said Toni Funderburg, site coordinator for Hartley Cemetery.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992.

The organization’s mission — Remember, Honor, Teach — is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

Delta Iota Tau, Girl Scouts in Kelseyville, Lake County 4-H Group in Lower Lake and FFA in Upper Lake and Middletown will be accepting donations for wreaths until Nov. 29.

It is the goal of each sponsoring group to place a remembrance wreath on each veteran gravesite at the participating cemeteries.

To do this, organizers need your help.

An Individual sponsorship cost $17 for one wreath and the family option costs $68 for four wreaths. Small businesses can fund 10 wreaths for $170 or any amount can be sponsored for $17 per wreath.

People can register to volunteer or sponsor a wreath at Hartley Cemetery by visiting https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/CA0751P, or choose another cemetery or sponsor group in Lake County by copying and pasting https://wreathsacrossamerica.org in your search bar and in the middle of the page you can click cemetery and sponsoring group.

There is no better time to express appreciation for our veterans than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Everyone knows or has known a veteran. Organizers are on a mission to remember, honor and teach.

Join the effort by sponsoring wreaths to be placed in honor of a veteran this December. This act will ensure that their sacrifice is remembered yet again and passed on to a new generation of Americans.