Wreaths Across America honors veterans, brings community together

ALTO PASS, Ill. (KBSI) – For the first time, the Peachbarn Winery and Café played host to a Wreaths Across America fundraiser this weekend.

On National Wreaths Across America Day, which falls on December 17, more than 2,500 cemeteries across the country will conduct wreath-laying ceremonies at the same time.  

Lucas Williams, who helped organize the fundraiser, outlined the ceremony in Alto Pass.

“We’ll have our veterans up there participating. The goal is to have the ROTC program actually present the colors,” he said. “We get the new generation coming in. We get our  older veterans coming in and participating, the community involvement, placing the wreaths and saying the names of those who have fallen over the years.”

A veteran himself in the Army Reserves, Williams said the community togetherness, and the involvement of those around the country, contribute to what makes the December ceremony a special one.

“Being able to see the community come out and support our fallen veterans is a great honor,” he said. “Being able to see everyone, even across the United States, being able to share in something that we can all do together at the same time.”

Peachbarn owner Jenna Schroeder said this cause holds a special place in her heart, and would in her grandfather’s heart, too.

“My grandfather was a World War II vet and was always very patriotic and drummed in supporting our country to us as we were growing up,” she said. “He’d be very proud to know we’re doing this.”

The December 17 ceremony in Alto Pass will begin at 11 a.m.