Rolling Thunder Picks Up Wreath Laying Tradition
Local veterans’ groups have cut ties with controversial non-profit Wreaths Across America and are planning to scale back the annual pre-Christmas wreath-laying ceremony. The Southern Maine Veterans’ Cemetery, which has hosted the annual event, and Rolling Thunder Maine Chapter 1, which raises funds for the event, say they could no longer afford the affiliation. Last year, it cost more than $78,400 to lay wreaths for all 2,800 graves, according to Linwood Dall, member of the cemetery board. The cost would have been higher this year since the cemetery has expanded to 3,300 graves.
