Marietta Seeks Volunteers to Lay Wreaths Honoring Veterans

The city of Marietta is participating in a nationwide program to lay wreaths on the graves of veterans at the National and Confederate cemeteries. The public is invited to help lay wreaths at the cemeteries and honor veterans at a wreath-laying ceremony Dec. 15. This is the first year wreaths will be laid at the Confederate Cemetery.

100 volunteers needed

Organizers are looking for people who'd like to lay a wreath on each of the graves in the Confederate Cemetery. If you're interested in volunteering arrive at the Confederate Cemetery by 11 a.m. Dec. 15, former City Councilwoman and organizer Betty Hunter said.

"People can buy wreaths for $15 each, and we will lay 100 wreaths on the graves at the Confederate Cemetery at noon," Hunter said. "The Old Guard in Atlanta wanted to place the wreaths in the Confederate Cemetery, and actually called Keep Marietta Beautiful director Joan Ellars to see if we could do that," she said. "Joan came to me about it, and we loved the idea."

Benefit for Marietta

"We want to bring more publicity to the cemetery we've worked so hard to get donations for," Hunter said. “Hopefully people will come to the cemetery, bring their friends, and then eat at one of the restaurants on the Square and visit museums."

About Wreaths Across America program

• Includes wreath laying ceremonies one Saturday in December at Arlington National Cemetery and veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and worldwide
• Part of week of events including international veteran's tributes, ceremonies at state houses and weeklong "Veteran's Parade" between Maine and Virginia

The ceremony will take place at the Marietta Confederate Cemetery, 395 Powder Springs St., at 11 a.m.