Emma Dixon, Bogalusa Wreaths Across America site coordinator, said that on Saturday, Dec. 12, members of the American Legion Magic City Post #24, Bogalusa Disabled Veterans (DAV), and representatives from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the entire community will gather together to honor veterans during the holiday season as part of the annual Wreaths Across America Day.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and a special celebration of all the veterans who served in the war in Asia.

This is Bogalusa’s fifth annual event, Dixon said, and this year organizers have invited General Russell Honore to speak to the JROTC Cadets at Bogalusa High School on Friday, Dec. 11, at noon.

In addition, the Bogalusa American Legion Post #24 and Voiture 1360 will have Col. Walter Smith, a resident of Mt. Hermon, as the guest speaker at Ponemah on Saturday, Dec. 12. The American Legion has volunteered again to conduct the WAA ceremony this year at the Ponemah Cemetery, and DAV and VFW have volunteered to conduct the ceremony at Bogalusa Cemetery. Both ceremonies will begin at 11 a.m.

Seven ceremonial wreaths will be placed from Worcester Wreath Company in Worcester, Maine at both cemeteries to remember all soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who served, honor their sacrifices, and teach our younger generations about the high cost of our freedoms.

“Specially designated wreaths for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and POW/MIA will be placed on memorials at Bogalusa Cemetery and Ponemah during a ceremony that will be coordinated simultaneously at over 1,000 participating locations all across the country,” Dixon said. “We will place American flags at all veteran gravesites, a military plane fly-over at both cemeteries is planned and the whistle at International Paper plant has been requested to be blown at 11 a.m., in accordance with the noon Eastern time wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery.”

Currently, sponsorships are still available to order wreaths from the Wreaths Across America website at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org at a cost of $15. Sponsorships received past this year’s deadline will be applied to 2016 events.

In 2015, it is projected that about a million wreaths will be placed nationwide, by over 600,000 volunteers as part of the Wreaths Across America mission.

For more information, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org or contact Emma Dixon at emeralddixon@hotmail.com or 985-570-4218.