The Daughters of the American Revolution’s Rochelle Chapter has participated in the Wreaths Across America program in Rochelle including St. Patricks, Lawnridge, and Trinity Cemeteries for several years, but has recently expanded its efforts to include Daysville Cemetery, near Oregon, where Revolutionary War soldier Daniel Day and many other veterans are buried.
The chapter is asking for the public’s help to continue those efforts, sponsor wreaths, and participate in its Wreaths Across America days at any of the above locations.
Rochelle Chapter members have recently been working to identify each veteran buried at Daysville Cemetery. About 200 Daysville veteran burial locations have been identified so far, which adds a significant number to the chapter’s fundraising goal to place wreaths at each veteran’s grave for the holiday season.
The mission of the Wreaths Across America program is to Remember, Honor, and Teach by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more the 2,500 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. When a volunteer places a wreath on a veteran’s grave, the Wreaths Across America program encourages them to speak that veteran’s name aloud, thank them for their service and sacrifice, and reflect on that person and their life.
The public is invited to visit Rochelle Chapter’s Wreaths Across America page at https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/IL0136P to select from the cemeteries Rochelle Chapter is sponsoring (Daysville, Lawnridge, St. Patrick’s, or Trinity) and select how many wreaths to order. Wreaths are $15 each, will be delivered by Wreaths Across America to the Rochelle DAR, and brought to the cemeteries on the scheduled Wreaths across America Days. Online entries are encouraged in honor of the purchaser’s veteran family or friends or in memory of those who have passed. Orders must be received by Nov. 30th to be included this year.
This year, Rochelle Chapter will hold ceremonies on two days. The Daysville Cemetery Wreaths Across America event will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec.18. The St. Patrick’s Cemetery Wreaths Across America event will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19 with an abbreviated ceremony at Lawnridge Cemetery to follow. All ceremonies will include the placing of ceremonial wreaths to honor veterans of each of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Merchant Marines, and POW/MIAs. The Wreaths Across America ceremonies will be conducted regardless of weather conditions.
For information about the Daysville event or to volunteer, community members are encouraged to reach out to Chapter Regent Laurie Perry at laurieannperry@hotmail.com or by cell: 573-774-9483. Community input about veterans buried at Daysville is welcome to help the chapter develop accurate records for use in later ceremonies and for genealogy research.
For information about the Rochelle events or to volunteer for Dec. 19 ceremonies, community members are encouraged to contact Lydia Roberts at vis.dar.rochelle@gmail.com or at 630-212-8057.
Advance notice to attend and participate in Wreaths Across America Day is not required; however, anyone wishing to place a wreath at a specific veteran’s grave, wishing to participate by placing a ceremonial wreath or otherwise participate in the ceremonies themselves should make that known as soon as possible. Participation by youth, and adult groups is encouraged.
