The national Wreaths Across America Remembrance Day will be held the morning of Dec. 13 at two Mesa locations this year, with ceremonies at Mariposa Gardens Memorial, 400 S. Power Road, and Mountain View Cemetery, 7900 E. Main St.

Both ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. followed by wreath laying at 10:30 a.m.

The free event requires support from the community. Mariposa Gardens will have approximately 500 wreaths, including two different sizes. Mountain View Cemetery contains 2,350 veteran graves. The goal is to sponsor a wreath for each grave with the assistance of volunteers, according to a release.

To contribute, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/az0190p, or mail checks to Wreaths Across America %Nancy Fassbender, 4657 S. Desert Dawn, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. Each sponsored wreath costs $17.

Volunteers are needed to help lay the donated wreaths. Register to volunteer by emailing nfass@hotmail.com. Donuts and coffee will be provided, and Texas Roadhouse will serve lunch to volunteers. Please specify which cemetery you prefer to volunteer at.

A total of 20 youth volunteers are needed this year. Children aged 7 to 14 who are interested in participating in the ceremonies are encouraged to contact Nancy Fassbender via email at nfass@hotmail.com.

For every wreath sponsored, Wreaths Across America donates $5 to benefit local veterans; these donations have supported initiatives such as service dogs, transportation, and housing. Sponsorship contributes to both commemorating interred veterans and supporting those in need.

Major sponsors for this year’s event include American First, Crescent Crown, Guild Mortgage, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 2560, VFW Post 9399 Auxiliary, Waste Management, Mountain View Cemetery, Bashas, and Texas RoadHouse in Mesa and Gilbert.

The national Wreaths Across America Remembrance Day is observed in local, state, and national cemeteries across all 50 states.

Each year, millions of American come together to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families and teach the next generation about the value of freedom.