DAYTON — Dayton National Cemetery joined more than 2,500 other locations across the country in hosting a wreath-laying ceremony for National Wreaths Across America Day.
The annual event is led by local volunteers who have worked with fundraising groups throughout the year to raise money to sponsor the placement of over 3,000 wreaths.
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Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “remember, honor, teach”, they carry out this mission by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies across the country and overseas.
Dayton National Cemetery has been honoring the Miami Valley’s fallen heroes in this way for the last 15 years.
Justin MacKeller, veteran cite coordinator, told News Center 7 that the men and women being honored are like family to him.
“For myself, being a veteran, these individuals here are family to me. I don’t want to let a day go by where I forget them or let anything happen to not remember them,” MacKeller said.
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Saturday’s gloomy weather did not keep volunteers and other from coming out to help lay wreaths and pay their respects. More than 7,000 wreaths were laid by more than 200 people at Dayton National Cemetery.
“Each year it definitely has gotten bigger,” MacKeller said.
One of the people out on Saturday was Judge Dennis Adkins, Montgomery County Common Pleas Court,Veteran’s Treatment Court. Adkins said he was out to help and support those buried in the cemetery. He was moved by the number of people that came out to help.
“When I saw everybody here, it really made me proud to be an American,” Adkins said.