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Ever since the doughboys came home and landed in New York harbor in 1919, and marched gloriously down Fifth Avenue, the 40 & 8 and the American Legion have taken pride in sponsoring events with the laughter and soldiers’ songs that everyone loved, with echoes of times of victory in the free world.

The Christmas Wreaths program allows all of us, whether veterans, civilians, soldiers or sailors, factory workers, or farmers, to join in a more silent but equally meaningful salute, and a remembrance appropriate to the Christmas season. For the last several years, 40 & 8 Voiture 1360 of Bogalusa has sponsored this event and once more is inviting everyone to take part. It involves the placing of a Christmas wreath, accompanied by a small flag, on each of the graves in the veterans’ plot in Ponemah Cemetery.

As of this writing, there are 325 of these graves. The project is not inexpensive, as each of the 325 placings costs $20 — including wreath, flag and flag holder. The group still plans to provide the wreaths somehow, but resources are presently limited. It will help tremendously if Bogalusa citizens will sponsor a wreath honoring a family member or friend, or the Unknown Soldier, or the armed services as a whole.

Contact names and numbers are: Donnie Kuhn at 985-516-9927, Mike Henley at 985-515-0184, or Jimmy Burdette at 713-817-5133.

The group’s wreaths are also available at the same $20 price, for those who may wish to honor a military veteran in a family cemetery or any other place of rest.

Gift contributions are very welcome and needed, but all citizens are invited to attend the ceremony at Ponemah Cemetery on Friday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m.

40 & 8 members also provided the following statement:

“Please remember that it is never the 40 & 8’s purpose to celebrate war, although when one has been involved in it, one can never forget it. We are remembering and appreciating those who had the courage to carry our flag instead of dishonoring it, and we recall as well the wives and parents who received the dreaded telegram. And while we’re at it, we are hoping that during our remaining time on this earth we may again see our country enjoy the strength and unity that sustained us during those long years when freedom’s future was at stake.

“Lest we forget.”