Wreath laying coming to Cove

Martinsburg to play host as official site for National Wreaths Across America Day

MARTINSBURG -- The mission of Wreaths Across America is to remember and honor veterans across the country, something that location coordinator Samantha Snowberger wanted to do in memory of her late civilian friend.

Dawn Theofield, who died in November 2021, would visit Arlington National Cemetery every year to help lay wreaths for Wreaths Across America, Snowberger said.

"She was a volunteer person at heart," Snowberger said. "Like, she helped with anything in the community that was going on. She was always there."

Snowberger said that bringing Wreaths Across America to the church where they met was a no-brainer.

She reached out to the Mount Pleasant Cemetery Association and was given permission to coordinate the event.

It will be Mount Pleasant's first time as an official location for Wreaths Across America. The ceremony will take place at noon Saturday, Dec. 16, with the wreath-laying following immediately after, Snowberger said.

Nine of the veteran wreaths will also be placed at the Hickory Bottom Cemetery to remember and honor the Revolutionary and Civil War veterans.

"We're gonna have warm beverages and some snacks and little favors for people," Snowberger said.

Veterans, family members and officials will be placing the wreaths on Saturday. One of them is 92-year-old Korean War veteran Lloyd Peck, who served 28 years in the Marine Corps.

When asked if he was looking forward to the occasion, he said "very much."

"I think it's a good thing that they're doing this for the vets," Peck said. "We definitely don't want to forget our veterans."

He said he'd gladly participate in future wreath-laying ceremonies "if they ask me" and "if I'm able to."

According to the Wreaths Across America website, there will be more than 3,700 participating locations placing veterans' wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day with more than 2 million volunteers coming together. Snowberger said that the wreaths used in the ceremony are all handmade Balsam fir from Maine.

At Mount Pleasant, the ceremony will begin with Boy and Girl Scout troops leading the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by VFW Auxiliary Post 43 Membership Chairperson Tammy Hunter singing the national anthem. Two Central High School band members will then play taps, Snowberger said. There will also be a 21 gun salute and an invocation.

"Then there's the ceremonial wreath laying, which is for each branch of the service," Snowberger said. "So it's the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force -- yeah, they include the Space Force -- Merchant Marines and then they have a POW/MIA."

Snowberger said that she would give a short explanation on how to lay the wreath, saying that the bow "is to be at the 12 o'clock position" so it doesn't touch the ground. The person who lays the wreath is then supposed to say the veterans name.

"It's just so they're not forgotten and reminds people that it's not a decorative wreath," Snowberger said. "It's a veteran's wreath to remember their life, not their death."

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.