Volunteers placed wreaths on veteran's graves in cemeteries at over 850 locations Dec. 13 to honor those who have served their country.

Locally, ceremonies were held at Resurrection Cemetery, 547 N. Krocks Road, Wescosville; Grandview Cemetery, 2735 Walbert Ave., Allentown; and Cedar Hill Memorial Park on Airport Road.

The program began in 1992 when a surplus of wreaths from the Worcester Wreath Company in Maine were sent to the Arlington National Cemetery in honor of veterans. This practice continued for over a decade when, in 2005, a picture of the gravestones adorned with wreaths went viral and the movement garnered national attention.

Since 1992, the mission to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach our children the value of freedom has prevailed.

Coordinator Margaret Albert organized the ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery.

"We are gathered here today at this memorial site and memorial sites all across America to remember we are one nation with one flag," Albert said. "We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people, many races, from many walks of life.

"The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so we can live in freedom and without fear. We can worship as we see fit. We can raise our children to believe as we do. We can travel from one end of this great nation to the other and not have to ask permission to go. We are free to vote for whomever we feel should be in government office."

"Our nation stands as a shining beacon of liberty and freedom to the world. We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free and we shall not forget you. We shall remember," Albert said.

Albert quoted 40th President Ronald Reagan's description of freedom.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free," Reagan said.

Andrew Kutzor, Kevin Burke, Carl Altenderfer, Virgil Hogue, Joe Garchinsky, Earl Marlatt and Harry Kubat participated in the wreath ceremony in memory of those who served and are serving in the Merchant Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Army. Kutzor's wreath was in honor of the 93,129 United States servicemen from all branches of the service whose last known status was either Prisoners of War or Missing in Action. "These individuals have never returned to their families and homes," Albert said. "We shall not forget you."

Jennifer Scott led the audience in the singing of the national anthem and God Bless America.

Boy Scouts from Troop 1600 and Girls Scouts from Cadet Troop 6500 and 6973 and Junior Troop 611 participated in the ceremony.

The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus also helped with the event.

In closing Albert spoke to the children and adults in the crowd.

"To our children, we want you to understand the freedoms you enjoy today have not been free, but have come with a cost that someday you may have to pay yourself. As a nation standing together, we can defeat terrorism, hatred and injustice. Thanks to our veterans, we have the freedom to do just that."