Volunteers lay wreaths on the gravestones of veterans at Arlington National Cemetery in 2022, the centerpiece of the Wreaths Across America effort. SUBMITTED PHOTO BY WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
More than 1,100 military veterans have their final resting place inside Franklin’s Greenlawn Cemetery.
They served in all branches of the military, both in peacetime and in times of war, dating back from the early 1800s to today.
As in cemeteries around the United States, the Wreaths Across America program raises money to decorate the graves of those veterans at Greenlawn on Dec. 16. Local supporters want to ensure as many of those veterans have wreaths as possible.
“It’s another way of honoring our deceased veterans at the holiday season,” said Keith Karnes, who organizes the Dec. 16 event.
To raise money for the Wreaths Across America effort, as well as raise awareness about it among the public, a special benefit is planned from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Haberdasher Artisan Distillery. The Salute to Service fundraiser includes a five-sample tasting of Haberdasher’s spirits, a tour of the Franklin tasting room facility, and food. A cash bar will be available, as will prizes.
Proceeds will benefit The Green Beret Foundation and Chapter 500 Special Forces Association, Indiana, with an opportunity to sponsor wreaths for veterans as well.
“I want there to be as many wreaths as possible,” said Katie Findley Schwarz, who has organized the Salute to Service event. “It stirred my heart a little bit — you’re making a commitment to volunteer and be here that day, whether it’s cold or raining or snowing. You’ve making a commitment to remember the veterans, honor their lives and teach the next generation about the sacrifices of freedom.”
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007. The goal was to carry on, expand and continue the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery that had been started by Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester in 1992.
Now, thousands of wreath-laying ceremonies are coordinated by the group every year across the country. The ceremonies are all conducted on Dec. 16 — a day distinguished as National Wreaths Across American Day by Congress.
In 2022, 2.7 million veterans’ wreaths were placed in total across the country.
Findley Schwarz had never heard of Wreaths Across America until earlier this year. Her husband is a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, better known as Green Berets. Schwarz is active in the Steel Mags Sisterhood, an auxiliary group of the Green Beret Foundation supporting Special Forces soldiers through philanthropy, education, event planning and casualty care.
The Green Beret Foundation is active with Wreaths Across America, spearheading the laying of the wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery.
When Findley Schwarz learned about Wreaths Across America from the Steel Mag Facebook page, she wanted to find out more.
“They were pushing out information about volunteering for it, or helping to sell wreaths, and you could do that either at Arlington or in your local community,” she said. “I’m all about my local community, so I wanted to sign up.”
Findley Schwarz discovered the Greenlawn Cemetery ceremony through Wreaths Across America, and reached out to Karnes, who coordinates the wreath-laying event in December for years. He is a leader for Scout Troop 228 in Franklin, and the troop has made the ceremony a core part of their yearly activities.
To sponsor a wreath costs $17, with $5 of that going towards the Green Beret Foundation. People can donate generally to the Greenlawn Cemetery event, for the wreath-laying in Arlington, or to buy a wreath by name specifically for a veteran.
The decorations need to be ordered by Nov. 28 in order for Wreaths Across America to get the supplies to Greenlawn Cemetery in time for the ceremony.
“We’re really pushing people to sponsor those wreaths, since the deadline is coming up,” Karnes said.
Working with Karnes and those in the community active with Wreaths Across America to put together the Salute to Service fundraiser.
The event will be broken up into two sessions — the first from 4 to 6:30 p.m., with tastings at 5, then another from 6:30 to 9 p.m., with tastings at 7:30.
Tickets are $35 each, which includes four standard tastings and one specialty tasting. People can also tour the distillery with head distiller and owner Brooks Bemis. Food will also be served.
In addition, the event will feature prizes, raffle and a cash bar. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase and sponsor veteran wreaths through Wreaths of America.
“It’s only $17 to sponsor a wreath, but you’re laying it for someone who gave everything,” Findley Schwarz said.
IF YOU GO
Salute to Service
What: A Veterans Day fundraiser to support the Green Beret Foundation and Chapter 500 Special Forces Association, Indiana. People will also have the opportunity to purchase and sponsor wreaths through Wreath Across America, to place decorations on the graves of veterans at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin or in Arlington National Cemetery.
When: 4-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Haberdasher Artisan Distillery, 81 E. Wayne St., Franklin
Cost: $35, which includes four standard and one specialty tasting as well as tours of the facility and food. The event will also feather prizes, raffle/donations and cash bar
Information and tickets: A link to buy tickets can be found at eventbrite.com and searching Salute to Service. A link is also available on Facebook by searching Salute to Service – Veterans Day Fundraiser. Tickets will also be available at the door.
AT A GLANCE
Wreaths Across America
What: A nationwide effort places wreaths on veterans graves at Arlington National Cemetery, and at cemeteries across the country, including at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin.
How it works: People can sponsor veteran wreaths for $17 each, either at a specific cemetery, for a specific veteran or to be placed on at a gravesite at Arlington.
Ceremony: Scout Troop 228 will host a memorial and wreath-placing ceremony at noon Dec. 16 at Greenlawn Cemetery, 100 W. South St., Franklin. The public is invited to attend.
Sponsoring a wreath: Go to wreathsacrossamerica.org, click the “Sponsor a Wreath” tab and search for Greenlawn Cemetery, choosing the one in Franklin.
