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Wreaths Across America Day observed to honor armed forces

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National Wreaths Across America Day is celebrated on Dec. 19th.

Kathy Gordon, a local Gold-Star mother reached out to the American Legion to help fund-raise and plan a Wreaths Across America event.

American Legion Post 4 donated money to the cause of placing wreaths at Mountview Cemetary.

"These wreaths symbolize and honor to those who have served and are serving in the United States in our great nation and their families, who endure sacrifices every day on our behalf," American Legion Post 4 Director Gill Floyd said.

Gordon placed the Gold Star family wreath on behalf of her son.

And are serving in this great nation's of armed forces. A moment of silence.

Wreath laying ceremonies take place at Arlington National Cemetery, and in over 2 thousand cemeteries across all 50 states, overseas and on many ships.

"It's a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive. Remember. We are not here today to decorate graves. We are here to remember, not their deaths. But their lives," Floyd said.

The ceremony honored all forms of military. As well as those who never came home.

"From all branches of the United States service whose last known status was either prisoner of war, or missing in action, these individuals never returned to their families at home. We shall never forget," Floyd said.

Now Kathy Gordon will lay the wreath for Gold Star families for all branches of the armed services.

Kathy Gordon placed the Gold Star family wreath on behalf of her son, who she lost last October.

Gordon says, it's not just about her son.

"It's not decorating the graves, it's not seeing who has the most wreaths, it's just honoring all the families that, you know are going through the same thing that we are. It's about all of these families that, their loved ones aren't coming home," Gordon said.

Wreaths have been placed in intervals at the nearly by volunteers, amongst the nearly 1300 veteran graves.

Today we show a united front of gratitude across the United States of America as we remember the fallen, honor those who have served, their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.

"We just kind of take the flag for granted, kids don't quite understand what that flag is flying up there for, so it's really important that we teach the kids, whether at school, home wherever it is, that that flag is our freedom. Somebody died for that flag, and we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow." Gordon said.