Wreaths Across America (WAA), is a national non-profit whose Mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach, is in part carried out with the placement of sponsored veterans’ wreaths at 2500 participating locations across America, most notably, at Arlington National Cemetery, each December. This year, the Oakdale Citizens Cemetery at 701 E. J St., Oakdale, will also take part.

On Saturday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m., Wreaths Across America will be at Oakdale Citizens Cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud.

You can help the local cemetery lay wreaths at as many graves as possible by visiting the ‘Wreaths Across America’ website at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and clicking the red “Sponsor” button for the Oakdale (95361) location. Or, if you would like to volunteer to participate in the wreath laying ceremony, click the “Volunteer” button next to the cemetery name, and don’t forget to click the “Invite” button to invite your friends and family to join you.

You can sponsor a wreath for $15 at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/. Each sponsorship goes toward a fresh balsam veteran’s wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero. You can text WREATH to 20222 to sponsor a wreath for Arlington National Cemetery right from your phone.

Another highly anticipated piece of this annual event is the weeklong, miles-long parade of tractor trailers, wrapped vehicles carrying veterans and Gold Star Families, law enforcement and motorcycle riders, leading the escort of wreaths to Arlington for placement.

This year’s annual escort of wreaths takes place from Tuesday, Dec. 15, through National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, Dec. 19.