Governor to join local wreath event

The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony will be Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock will be the keynote speaker. The public is invited.

The first part of the celebration will be inside the Veterans Home where wreaths honoring six branches of the military and POW/MIAs will be presented. The national anthem will be performed by members of the Columbia Falls High School Choir.

A brief reception with Bullock will follow the ceremony. 

After the reception, the public is invited to car caravan to the Montana Veterans Home Cemetery to place over 170 wreaths on veterans’ graves. Wreaths are sponsored by businesses and citizens throughout the Flathead Valley.

Participating groups in this year’s ceremony include Glacier Chapter-Sons of the American Revolution, Bird Woman Falls Chapter-Daughters of the American Revolution, local American Legion posts and veterans’ groups. 

Wreaths Across America started in 1992, donating memorial wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Last year, wreath-laying celebrations were held at over 900 cemeteries across the nation with more than 540,000 wreaths placed on veterans’ graves.

The ceremony occurs at the same time across the country.