Fassbender: Donations needed for wreaths at 1,300 military veteran graves

Wreaths Across America has been in existence since 1992 and is famously known as decorating the Arlington National Cemetery with wreaths. Its goal is placing wreaths on every veteran’s grave in all cemeteries nationwide to remember, honor and pay tribute to their sacrifices.

This year is our third year at the Mountain View Cemetery, 7900 E. Main St, in Mesa, honoring the 2,000 veterans who are interred. The last two years we have been able to honor all the veterans interred there. So far 700 living wreaths have been sponsored this year, but we need to have your help in sponsoring 1,300 more wreaths.

People who would like to sponsor a wreath, the cost is only $17 per wreath. You can also purchase different sponsorships. For $1,700 you can be a corporate sponsor. I will continually announce corporate sponsors as they purchase over 100 wreaths. So far, we have Albertsons/Safeway, America First Credit Union, Crescent Crown and Purple Heart Chapter 2960.

For a $5,000 donation, you will also be announced in the Wreaths Across America National website as well as in its national newsletter.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 2560 will be coordinating with other organizations to sell and place wreaths on all veteran grave sites at the Mountain View Cemetery. Other organizations that have joined are VFW and VFW Auxiliary Post 7968 and 9399, Daughters of the American Revolution and there will be more joining to sell the wreaths.

People who are interested in sponsoring wreaths can purchase directly from the organizations listed above or they can directly purchase it online from MOPH Chapter 2560 at this website: wreathsacrossamerica.org/AZ0190P.

I encourage you to purchase as soon as you can as the wreaths are made in Maine and they would like to make sure they have enough people to help make the living wreaths.

On Dec. 16, 2023, the ceremony will be at the Mountain View Cemetery starting at 9:30 a.m. Then at 10 a.m, we will start laying the wreaths on the veterans graves. This is a coordinated time in order that nationwide every participating cemetery will start laying their wreaths at the same time.

We also can use the help to unload the semi truck when it comes in — which is a couple of days before Dec. 16, 2023 — and/or help place the wreaths on the veteran graves on Dec. 16. Those who would like to partake in the honor of doing this for our veterans, please let me know as I am creating a list. This is a great family affair to help educate our children about what freedom is.

We have set our goal for 2,000 wreaths; we need a lot of help in sponsoring the wreaths as well as unloading and placing them on the grave sites. I hope you will be able to help us achieve our goal to honor in covering all the veteran grave sites.

If you know of any other business or individual who would like to sponsor a wreath, please have them reach out to Nancy Fassbender 520-280-4715.