Atlanta's historic Southview Cemetery is hosting a wreath-laying event honoring veterans on Saturday, December 14 at noon. Southview Cemetery Association President Wini Watts-Hemphill and Southview Manager Chermaine Axam-Wilkins stopped by WCLK to talk about this event and also talk about Southview, one of Atlanta's enduring African American institutions.
November 18, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia - On Saturday December, 14, 2013 the community, families, and friends will gather to pay tribute to the veterans laid to rest at South-View Cemetery during the annual Wreaths Across America, (WAA) holiday wreath laying ceremony.
Come with a Mission to Remember, Honor, & Teach….leave with Memories of Sacrifice, Courage, and Strength.
The Historic South-View Preservation Foundation, Inc. will conduct its annual WAA ceremony at South-View Cemetery, 1990 Jonesboro Road, SE, Atlanta, GA 30315 on Saturday December 14, 2013 at 12:00 Noon. The ceremony will be coordinated simultaneously at over 750 participating locations throughout the world. Wreaths will be laid to pay tribute to each branch of the military as well as to those soldiers who are still prisoners of war or missing in action.
The guest speaker will be Val Archer, a Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen, (DOTA). Reverend Gregory V. Eason, Sr., of St. Paul AME Church will provide the invocation and the JROTC from The Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy under the direction of 1st Sgt. Mona Venning with present the flag. South-View Cemetery invites everyone to come and honor our heroes on this occasion.
The Wreaths Across AmericaTM story began over 20 years ago when the Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, Maine initiated a tradition of donating and placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. The tradition has expanded to include veterans buried at private cemeteries. South-View is one of only a few private cemeteries participating in the Atlanta area.
Wreaths will be placed in all 50 states from Maine to Alaska and Hawaii, and at 24 national cemeteries on foreign soil. Over 400,000 wreaths will be sponsored by individuals, businesses, and groups from communities Nation-wide.
To sponsor a wreath, or for more information about this event contact the Historic South-View Preservation Foundation, Inc. at 404-622-5393, email info@southviewcemetery.com or write the Historic South-View Preservation Foundation, Inc. 1990 Jonesboro Road, SE, Atlanta, GA 30315.
For more information about WAA contact Karen Worcester, Executive Director (877) 385-9504 or email karen@wreathsacrossamerica.org.
“The nation which forgets its defenders will soon be forgotten.” Calvin Coolidge