By Gari Voss
Fall provides several opportunities to remember veterans who served from the Revolutionary War to the present. Organizations across the county are working to make these holidays special.
Veterans Day, November 11th
Glenn Public School, 1394 Adams Rd, Glenn, MI, and the American Legion Post #49 Honor Guard will hold a special event on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at 11am near the outside flagpole. Everyone is welcome to join the celebration. For more information, contact Jamie Walle at 269 512-7977.
Pine Street Elementary in Wayland, MI invite veterans, their families and community members to a Veterans Day Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at 10am in the Pine Street Elementary Gym.
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 631 Grand St., Allegan will hold a light luncheon on Tues., Nov. 11, 2025, at 12pm for all veterans and their spouses. This is to thank all veterans for their service. For info, call 269 673-3336.
Pearl Harbor Day, December 7th
This was a crucial turning point in America’s involvement in World War II. It provides another opportunity to thank the many who lost their lives that day and during the following years.
Wreaths Across America
This year, National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Everyone is invited to join the more than four million volunteers and supporters who will gather to Remember, Honor and Teach at more than 5,200 participating locations across all 50 states, at sea and abroad.
Oakwood Cemetery in Allegan took a leap in 2025 and set a goal to have a donation of 1000 wreaths to place on the graves of the veteran who are interned ar Oakwood. The Friends are nearing the 400 mark, but still require many more donations to hit their 1000 goal. To donate go to https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/, click sponsor wreaths and begin the process.
Wreaths across America has the vision to remember, honor, and teach. This gives opportunities to participate in three main ways.
Remember. By sponsoring a veteran’s wreath, the donor can honor a living veteran or give in memory of a loved one who served in the armed forces. Sponsors can designate a recipient (family member or acquaintance) among the millions of heroes who rest in honored glory or ask to honor a person who may no longer have someone to remember them.
Honor. Volunteers can honor veterans on December 13th by assisting in distributing wreaths around the cemetery or throughout the year by working with the Friends of Oakwood Cemetery to assist in the care and maintenance of the cemetery.
Teach. Volunteers can give their knowledge and skills in teaching the next generation and keeping the memory of veterans alive by sharing that knowledge and those skills with others.
An interesting thought: We die twice. Once when we leave this earth and a second time when people forget our name and who we were. Wreaths Across America encourage all to work together to continue honoring those who have passed.
What began in 1992 as a pilgrimage of Morrill and Karen Worchester from Maine to Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. has grown in the last 30 years. In 2024, over 3 million veterans’ wreaths were sponsored and laid in 3,390 participating locations. Over four million volunteers assisted in placing wreaths.
In 2025, the Friends of Oakwood Cemetery will increase that number and strive to meet their 1000 wreath goal so each veteran at Oakwood Cemetery will be honored with a wreath decorated with a single hand-made red bow.
