GARDINER — Volunteers placed wreaths on veterans’ graves Saturday in Oak Grove Cemetery in Waterville.

Their action was part of Wreaths Across America, a national event organized by volunteers that honors veterans by laying wreaths on their graves every year.

Annie Cough, of Gardiner, lays a wreath Saturday on a veteran’s grave in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. Organizer Steve Hanley, of American Legion Post 4 in Gardiner, said 525 veterans are buried in area cemeteries, but his group could raise only enough money to buy 230 wreaths for the graves.
Annie Cough, of Gardiner, lays a wreath Saturday on a veteran’s grave in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. Organizer Steve Hanley, of American Legion Post 4 in Gardiner, said 525 veterans are buried in area cemeteries, but his group could raise only enough money to buy 230 wreaths for the graves. Photo by Kevin Bennett
Rod and Lydia Tenney, of Gardiner, lay wreaths Saturday on veterans’ graves in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. Organizer Steve Hanley of American Legion Post 4 in Gardiner said 525 veterans are buried in area cemeteries, but his group could raise only enough money to buy 230 wreaths for the graves.
Rod and Lydia Tenney, of Gardiner, lay wreaths Saturday on veterans’ graves in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. Organizer Steve Hanley of American Legion Post 4 in Gardiner said 525 veterans are buried in area cemeteries, but his group could raise only enough money to buy 230 wreaths for the graves. Photo by Kevin Bennett
Rod and Lydia Tenney, left, and Annie Cough, all of Gardiner, look for veterans’ graves where they can lay wreaths Saturday in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. Organizer Steve Hanley of American Legion Post 4 in Gardiner said 525 veterans are buried in area cemeteries, but his group could raise only enough money to buy 230 wreaths for the graves.
Rod and Lydia Tenney, left, and Annie Cough, all of Gardiner, look for veterans’ graves where they can lay wreaths Saturday in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. Organizer Steve Hanley of American Legion Post 4 in Gardiner said 525 veterans are buried in area cemeteries, but his group could raise only enough money to buy 230 wreaths for the graves. Photo by Kevin Bennett
Lisa Gilliam, of Gardiner, lays a wreath Saturday on the grave of a veteran as Trisha Leathers, center, and Kathy Cutler watch in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. Organizer Steve Hanley of American Legion Post 4 in Gardiner said 525 veterans are buried in area cemeteries, but his group could raise only enough money to buy 230 wreaths for the graves.
Lisa Gilliam, of Gardiner, lays a wreath Saturday on the grave of a veteran as Trisha Leathers, center, and Kathy Cutler watch in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gardiner. Organizer Steve Hanley of American Legion Post 4 in Gardiner said 525 veterans are buried in area cemeteries, but his group could raise only enough money to buy 230 wreaths for the graves. Photo by Kevin Bennett

The tradition began in 1992 at the instigation of Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Co., in Harrington, who placed surplus wreaths that year at Arlington National Cemetery.

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