Over 30 years ago, a Maine businessman named Morrill Worcester laid his extra wreaths on graves of veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

That started an annual nationwide event to honor U.S. military veterans called Wreaths Across America.

On Saturday, 5,598 locations across the country honored veterans with remembrance wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day.

One of those locations was Wellsville-Middletown High School.

The Wellsville Historical and Preservation Society held a Wreaths Across America event at the W-M gymnasium, honoring the Wellsville area residents who served in the military. Dena Saak, the organization’s president, was the emcee of the 77-minute event which included singing performances from the W-M Honors Choir, the reading of the Wellsville Cemetery veterans and guest speakers Noah and Weston Wolter. 

“Today, we show a united form of gratitude for all of the other locations that are doing this and respect across the United States of America as we remember the fallen,” Saak said. “We honor those who have served and their families and teach the next generation the value of freedom.”

The event was originally scheduled to be held at Reed Park, but due to weather conditions, it was moved to the W-M High School.

Volunteers put wreaths at the graves of the Wellsville veterans at the city’s cemetery under frigid conditions on Saturday. There are about 400 Wellsville veterans who are buried at the cemetery.

Kristina Romaker, Beverly Butera, John Howell, Rita Gangloff and George Jacobi read the names of the deceased Wellsville veterans who served in the military. It took 34 minutes to read all of the names.

“At least 10 percent of those who are buried out there have served in the military,” Saak said. “Our men and women served in World War II, by far more than any war.” 

Saak said during her 11-minute opening speech that thanks to the veterans, Americans should be proud to live in a country in which they can do whatever they want.

“We can worship how we see fit, we can raise our children in the things we can believe in, we can vote for leaders of our choosing and we have the right to succeed or fail in whatever we wish to pursue,” Saak said.

Worcester was the owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, when he had a large number of wreaths in 1992. With help from a Maine senator, Worcester placed the wreaths at the Arlington National Cemetery. In 2007, Worcester founded the Wreaths Across America organization.

Dec. 13 is designated as National Wreaths Across America Day. Wreath-laying ceremonies are held in every state in the country.

“They actually make over four million wreaths and send them out,” Saak said. “That gives you some idea about what kind of deal this is. I don’t believe Montgomery County has ever held Wreaths Across America. Hopefully, this isn’t the last one, but we’ll see how that goes. It takes a lot of work.”

New Florence-based Rustoberfest, Missouri Service, the Bank of Missouri in Montgomery City, Myers Funeral Home, Bob and Liza Darr and Bob and Dena Saak were the sponsors of the event.

Wellsville VFW Post 3056, the Wellsville Fire Department, Gully Transportation, W-M High School, Montgomery City Florist, the Drinking Horn in Wellsville and the Wellsville Cemetery Association were among the volunteers.