The opening ceremony will include ceremonial placements of wreaths for the
Armed Services at the Park Headquarters to be placed later at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
A moment of Silence as well as program talking about this special Wreaths Across America program presented by Veterans Heritage Site Foundation to honor the veterans who are buried
in the Park.
Speakers include Brad Free, NPS spokesman, Marilyn Childress, President of Veterans Heritage Site Foundation, Chaplain Jimmy Maples of the Elks Lodge, Joe Emert, Past President of the East Tennessee Historical Society, and possible other dignitaries.
There will be 40-50 volunteers placing the wreaths though out the Park: Each volunteer will say the veterans name and with either a salute or a moment of silence will make sure that
these veterans are never forgotten with Remembering, Honoring, and Teaching all generations
of the sacrifices our veterans did for our country.
Immediately following the ceremony, placement of the wreaths will be placed in the Elkmont Levi Trentham Cemetery, the Trentham Cemetery, cemeteries in Smokemont area, Lauada
Cemetery, Walker Valley cemeteries, and cemeteries in Greenbrier including Plemmons Cemetery where descendants will hike to place a wreath on their Revolutionary War Veteran
grandfather Henry Bohannon. There will also wreaths placed on Frederick Emert, a Revolutionary War Veteran buried in the Emert Cove Cemetery. At 1 pm, a group of volunteers
will be placing wreaths throughout Cocke County.
Other times include: December 18 at 11 am- Wreaths Placement in Cades Cove
2 pm- West Miller Cove Cemetery
December 22 TBD- Wreaths will be placed at in the Fontana Lake and Hazel Creek area. Boat Shuttle will be early that morning to take hikers across Fontana Lake to hike 6 various sites.
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