Veterans kick off ‘Wreaths Across America’
Published 8:18 am Wednesday, December 2, 2015
- DAILY NEWS PHOTO/Randy Hammons Bogalusa Mayor Wendy Perrette, center, recently made the first donation to the local 2015 Wreaths Across America campaign. Perrette made the donation to 40&8 Voiture 1360 for wreaths to be placed at the Veterans’ Plot in Ponemah Cemetery on Dec. 12. Accepting the donation are Voiture 1360 members Donald Kuhn, left, and Bobby Latino.
In conjunction with “Wreaths Across America,” Voiture 1360 will join with all veterans. cemeteries in laying Christmas wreaths on all veterans’ graves in the Veterans’ Plot in Ponemah Cemetery.
The 2015 ceremony will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, simultaneously with the ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., and other veterans’ cemeteries in all 50 states and a number of foreign countries.
The wreaths that are placed on veterans’ graves are not free. Voiture 1360 cannot make this project happen without donations and contributions. This will be the fourth year to participate in this ceremony with a 21-gun salute and playing of “Taps” at Ponemah.
The Voiture 360’s goal is to provide wreaths for all 300 veterans’ graves in the Veterans’ Plot in Ponemah Cemetery and provide wreaths for as many other veterans’ graves as possible in the Washington Parish district. The organization encourages all families in Washington Parish who have deceased veteran family members to sponsor and place Christmas wreaths on their graves at 11 a.m. on Dec. 12.
Members of Voiture 1360 will be reaching out to schools, churches, businesses and the public for their support.
If anyone would like to donate, contact either Voiture 360 members Mike Henley at 985-515-0185, Bobby Latino at 985-516-0055, Buddy Fornea at 985-517-7604, or Donald Kuhn at 985-516-9927.