The Historical and Preservation Society of Wellsville is holding an event on Nov. 7 at Kiwanis Ballpark to celebrate Veterans Day and 250 Years of Freedom.

The event will start at 5 p.m. Food will be available for purchase by the Wellsville Community Athletic Association. A ceremony will follow with the presentation of the flags, a speaker from Whiteman Air Force Base and music. After the ceremony, the lantern purchasers will gather on the field to light and release their lanterns.

Sky lanterns (39”x24”) can be purchased to honor veterans, deceased or living, as well as present military personnel. The lanterns are biodegradable and fire retardant. A lighter will be provided with purchase as well as the opportunity to write any veterans or military personnel name on the lantern. The lanterns will be provided at the event.

Lanterns must be purchased prior to the event by contacting Dena Saak at 636-575-0073 or emailing her at saakdena@gmail.com. One lantern is $10, two are $18, three are $25 and every lantern after that is $6 each. Lanterns should be purchased by Oct. 30 to ensure they are available for the event.
This will be the first event the Historical and Preservation Society is holding this fall. In December, the organization is holding the Wreaths Across America event. Participating cemeteries include Resurrection Cemetery in Wellsville, the Fair Mount Cemetery in Middletown, Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in Martinsburg as well as the Liberty Cemetery, Martinsburg Community Cemetery and the New Mt. Zion Cemetery, all in the Martinsburg area. Anyone who has a veteran in one of these cemeteries can contact Saak for more information.