MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette The Wreaths Across America mobile exhibit visits the Montoursville American Legion post Wednesday.

Every December thousands of volunteers from around the world celebrate those that made the courageous choice to defend freedom by laying wreaths on the graves of deceased military veterans and saying their names, as part of Wreaths Across America.

In an effort to spread the word on the organization’s message, to make sure that no veteran is ever forgotten, their mobile exhibit will make several stops throughout the area.

The mobile educational exhibit, which was first opened in 2018, includes interactive screens and displays with in depth information about Wreaths Across America’s history from its founding to today.

An eight minute video details that history with interviews with Morrill Worcester, of Worcester Wreath Company, who first began donating his excess wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery in 1992.

15 years later, the organization became a recognized 501c.

The first of exhibit’s eight stops throughout the area began on Tuesday in Watsontown, according to Dori Rankinen, coordinator of Wreaths Across America, Central Pennsylvania, which includes 35 cemeteries.

“Last time they were through, four years ago, I only had one location, but since we have so many cemeteries in the consortium, they said, ‘hey, we’ve got a 2 week block. What do you want to do,’ and I said, ‘I can fill that,'” she said.

“A lot of them came out with tears in their eyes,” Rankinen said of the attendees in Watsontown.

The exhibit made its second stop at The Eugene Grafius American Legion Post 104, Montoursville, Wednesday afternoon.

For Patricia Gallery, of Hughesville, who brought her grandchildren to the exhibit, the visit was personal.

“My grandfather’s buried in Arlington National Cemetery, so I wanted them to see how the wreaths are done,” she said.

Gallery’s grandfather, Daniel, a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy during World War II, conceived the plan that resulted in the capture of the Nazi German submarine U-505, and along with it, the boat’s Enigma coding machine and code books, she said.

The USS Gallery, a frigate, would later be named in his honor.

“I’m trying to help them understand the history of our family and what all the service members did,” Gallery said of her second and third-grade grandchildren.

“We wouldn’t have the freedom we have if it wasn’t for them,” said Marie Pasnello, of Williamsport.

Marie and her husband, Frank, a retired Sergeant with the U.S. Air Force, have previously donated to the cause.

“It’s very important. They sacrificed so much for us,” Marie said.

“It’s a family thing,” said Ronald Clayton, of Montoursville, a member of the Army Corps of Engineers, who has a long family history in the military dating back to the Civil War.

His son recently retired from the 82nd Airborne division of the U.S. Army.

“It’s nice to make sure all these graves get a wreath,” said Clayton, who, along with his son, daughter and three grandchildren have participated in wreath laying with the organization.

“This is really amazing, but even more amazing is to participate in the wreath laying and an actual cemetery,” said Jack McDermott, who served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force from 1968 to 1972.

Jack and his wife, Lillian, of Turbotville, attend the ceremony held at Fort Indiantown Gap each year to lay wreaths on some of the 44,000 veteran graves.

A commonly held misconception the couple wish to dispel is that the wreath laying is in connection with the nearby Christmas holiday.

“A lot of people took offense to that because we were we were putting wreaths on maybe somebody’s grave that didn’t want them because they weren’t Christian, but we’re even told during the wreath-laying process, that if you see a Star of David on a stone, do not put a wreath on, just say their name,” Jack said.

“Every piece of that wreath has a meaning that has nothing to do with the holidays. It’s just remembrance,” Lillian added.

“It’s really neat to see the young children with parents or scoutmasters, kneeling at a grave and talking about what this means. It’s great to see if young people get involved,” she said.

Rankinen encourages those who visit the exhibit to help spread the word of its impact.

“Take the time to learn more about what the mission is and be a part of the mission,” she said.

“Tell people, ‘hey, I went to this thing, it’s going to be in five other venues, please go out and see it, because you’ll never forget it,” Rankinen said.

“It’s that important, just getting that word out, and helping people understand why we’re doing what we’re doing,” she said.

The exhibit will make stops at: Walmart, 1015 Loyalsock Ave., Montoursville, today from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Gamble Inn Farm, Jersey Shore, Sunday, June 22, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; 140 Via Bella, Williamsport, on Wednesday, June 25, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; 515 Legion Road, Muncy, on Friday, June 27, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Post 268, 185 Broad St., Montgomery, on Saturday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sam’s Club, 611 Lycoming Mall Circle, Muncy, on Sunday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Those interested in learning more or becoming involved with Wreaths Across America are encouraged to check out the chapter’s facebook page at www.facebook.com/Centralpawaa.