Wreaths Across America Day Held at Mt. Olivet

The Kearney Masonic Lodge #311 and the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, an official Wreaths Across America (WAA) location, will join more than 2,700 other locations across the country by hosting a wreath‐laying ceremony for National Wreaths Across America Day. The event is coordinated and led by local volunteers.

Fundraising groups have raised funds throughout the year to sponsor the placement of 325 veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of our fallen service members laid to rest there. This annual event seeks to further the WAA mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – ensuring that the memory of those who served our country endures.  

The Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 11:00am at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, and will include a wreath laying to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery and Fairview Cemetery. Mt. Olivet Cemetery is located at 201 State Route 92, Kearney, MO. Fairview Cemetery is located at 501 N Grove Street Kearney.

Kearney Masonic Lodge #311 will be helping Mt. Olivet and Fairview Cemeteries to remember and honor our veterans by laying remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes. The Masonic Lodge members will be joined by Kearney Mayor Randy Pogue, City Aldermen, Kearney City Administrator, Kearney Police Chief, Kearney Fire Chief, Kearney Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post #5717, Boys Scouts, and Veterans. 

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath‐laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath‐laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at more than 2,700 veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and overseas.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story