AUGUSTA — The Coombs Mills Cemetery, located at the intersection of Mount Vernon Road and Leighton Road, is a new addition to the Wreaths Across America Program.
On Dec. 18, which is National Wreaths Across America Day, all 22 veterans who are laid to rest in the cemetery are scheduled to be honored with wreaths.
The cemetery, one of more than 2,500 participating locations across the country and the world, is being sponsored by Pine Tree Post 887, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
The event is open to the public. All veterans, active-duty military and their families, as well as the local community, are encouraged to attend and learn more about Wreaths Across America’s yearlong mission to Remember, Honor, Teach. The goal of the event is to raise awareness and to honor every veteran.
Those wishing to be included can park at the VFW Post, 509 Leighton Road. There is limited parking at the cemetery, and the post is a quarter mile from the cemetery.
Most of the event will be outside, but participants can come into the post for a briefing at 10 a.m. Social distancing, sanitation and masking while inside will be expected to protect the health of all visitors in accordance with the Maine CDC and other agencies recommendations stemming from concerns about the COVID epidemic.
At 11 a.m. the group will march to the cemetery and place the wreaths followed by a short ceremony.
The members of the Pine Tree Post and its auxiliary work throughout the year to honor their veterans through projects and services that better their community. Post Commander Brian McComb, a veteran of Afghanistan, said, “Remembering our deceased veterans honors them as well as those who are serving now. This is part of how we teach the next generation the value of service to our country,” according to a news release from Post 887.
James Ware, a member of the post, is also the VFW service officer for Maine. He said, “Last year we assisted more than 3,500 veterans in presenting claims for service-connected disability.”
The VFW Service Office provides free assistance to all eligible veterans with no requirement for VFW membership.
For more information, contact the Post at vfwpost887@roadrunner.com, 207 623-9638, or Post Adjutant Charles McGillicuddy at vosemcgill@msn.com.
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