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Paris cemetery participating
in Wreaths Across America
PARIS, Pa. -- Wreaths Across America, 2020 will remember and honor America veterans who rest in more than 2,500 cemeteries across America and overseas, who were a part of every major conflict as well as peace-time service to the country.
Paris Cemetery of Paris, Pa., will be one such location for a memorial service on Saturday beginning at noon.Visitors and participants will lay wreaths on the 245 graves of the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Mexican, Spanish American, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Iraq and peace-time service, interred at Paris Cemetery, on old Steubenville Pike, Village of Paris.
Service wreaths also will be placed at the flag circle, honoring all military branches, and an honorary wreath will be laid at the site of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Uriah H. Brown, Civil War hero.
The original project began in 1992, when Maine businessman Morrill Worcester and family donated 5,000 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Iconic photos of the evergreen wreaths with red ribbons, laid against row after row of snow- covered markers caught the heart of the nation, resulting in the program that has expanded to all national cemeteries and now include all those that enter the worldwide program to remember and honor their own interred veterans.
This marks the second year that Paris Cemetery has committed to its interred veterans of all wars. The 2020 pandemic hampered opportunity to campaign for full support of enough wreaths to cover all Paris veteran graves, but a final count was reached by the November cut-off for 2020.
As part of the memorial service, participants will be asked to pause at a veteran's stone, say the name, remove the paper tag and place the wreath. The tag states "Today I place a wreath on the grave of an American hero." The Paris Cemetery Committee will have ribbon hangers to attach to the tags to be used as a Christmas tree ornament.
All volunteer interest is encouraged in preparation as well as the event-day wreath laying. The 10 acres allows for safe social distancing, and everyone is encouraged to mask and dress for the rain-or-shine cold event.
Site coordinator for Paris Cemetery is Patty Rhoades, (724) 207-0369 or Ralph Speer, board president, (724) 506-3350.
Wreath sponsoring already has begun for 2021 and can be done online at www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org -- Paris Cemetery ID # PAPCSP. "Please join us as we 'Remember, Honor, Teach' and encourage all to 'Be an American Worth Fighting For,'" a spokesperson noted.
Brooke County Library
offering Masked Reads
WELLSBURG -- At a time when many are donning masks, the Brooke County Public Library is offering Masked Reads, books that have been covered to conceal their titles, for adventurous readers who would like to try a tome while knowing little about it.
Library patrons may choose the genre, from mysteries and romances to inspirational and cookbooks. The library's staff will select up to three for them.
Call (304) 737-1551 or visit wellsburg.lib.wv.us/newsletter2.htm to learn more.
Readers of all ages also should watch for news of the library's new winter reading program coming in January and February.