ing donations , and that money funds wreaths for The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville .
“ We ’ re just the support to raise the money for the wreaths and also to place the wreaths out there and also to remove the wreaths ,” Griffin explains . “ A lot of groups use it as a fundraiser . We don ’ t use it as a fundraiser . Every bit of the money that is sent in goes for wreaths at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery .”
On a scheduled date each year — this year on Dec . 17 — a memorial ceremony is held prior to placement of the wreaths . The ceremony includes a keynote speaker , and Patriot Guard Riders are on hand to recognize each branch of service including Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action . After the ceremony closes , hundreds of volunteers proceed up to the gravesites to place the wreaths .
Among those volunteers and attendees are always family members .
“ They come from Stone Mountain . They come from Warner Robins . They come from Roberta . They come from Augusta . They ’ ve got loved ones buried out there , and of course , we ’ ve got a lot of spouses here in Milledgeville that have their husband buried out there ,” he says . “ There ’ s quite a few .”
For Griffin , it ’ s a personal
endeavor .
“ The reason I feel it ’ s important is because , number one , if we don ’ t do it , it won ’ t get done , but number two , I believe in honoring those veterans that are laid to rest out there because they paid the ultimate sacrifice … It means a lot .”
For the past four years , the group has been able to place a wreath at every headstone . The number needed of course grows each year . Five years ago , in December 2017 , there were 3,194 graves in the cemetery . Today , there are around 4,900 , which is why support from the community is so needed .
Holiday 2022 | Milledgeville Scene 23