Wreath Across America

The Signal Hill, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, chapter of Barrington, IL is proud to announce that it will again partner with the national Wreaths Across America organization on December 19, 2020. Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington, is once again, the designated cemetery for the 2020 event, which will include a brief memorial service and then public participation of laying of wreathes on identified Veterans' graves as a remembrance of their service and sacrifice.

Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath­-laying ceremonies at more than 1,600 locations across the United States, at sea and abroad each year on a pre-determined date, sanctioned by the organization. Donations toward sponsorship of wreaths are collected by various organizations, and the donated wreaths are placed at each grave, in order to remember and honor the Veteran, and teach future generations the importance of honoring our military Veterans. If you have a family member interred at Evergreen, it is possible to designate a purchased wreath for that gravesite. Directed donations are possible on the Wreaths Across America website for Evergreen Cemetery. For more information about Wreaths Across America, please visit their website at WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

For the first time last year, Signal Hill undertook the task of working with Evergreen Cemetery in identifying and locating the nearly 500 graves at Evergreen. Various Veterans' groups, lineage societies, and private individuals directed funds to purchase over 340 wreaths. On the national distribution date, members of the community, Veteran's groups, and dignitaries like U.S. Congressman Sean Casten, Barrington Village President Karen Darch, IL State Vice Regent NSDAR Patricia Cork, and members of the Signal Hill Chapter attended a brief memorial ceremony, complete with presentation of the colors by a local Scout troop, and the playing of "Taps" by an area bugler. The public was then invited to place wreaths on designated graves throughout Evergreen Cemetery.

In its second year of partnership with Wreaths Across America, the goal of Signal Hill is to raise enough donations to provide a wreath for each and every known veteran at Evergreen on December 19, 2020 If your loved one is laid to rest elsewhere, but you would like to honor that person by honoring a local veteran's grave, that, too, is possible.

Signal Hill members remain cautiously optimistic that the event can take place. If you have any questions, or would like to donate or volunteer for the December 2020 event, please contact Deborah Edlund at debedlund@gmail.com.

Each year, The Community Meal of Barrington and surrounding communities honors Veterans. The chapter usually supplies desserts and works at the event. This year the meal was served via drive by pick up. That didn’t stop the chapter from being involved. Jackie Marcus, Deb Edlund, Kathy Casey and Regent Joyce Wright donated cookies. We made a flyer handout, thanking our veterans and telling the community about Wreaths Across America. The evening of the event, Regent Joyce Wright said the Pledge of Allegiance following a Flag Ceremony by the Cub Scouts. Joyce and Kathy Casey waved to all those who drove by.

The National Gathering is going virtual! The National Gathering of Veterans - Honoring All in a Traditional Native Way is a yearly event that is usually held at Cantigny park in Wheaton, IL. However, this year due to COVID-19, the event will take place virtually as a webinar, with portions of it being broadcast from Trickster Cultural Center itself. This full-day event, held on Saturday, September 26th, honors veterans and military personnel of all cultures, eras, and branches in a Native way.If customers can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. Clearly list and describe the services you offer. Also, be sure to showcase a premium service. Click to register via Zoom: Click: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-gS-xLZ6RkKSiaDFYdIleA

• Operation HerStory is teaming up with Honor Flight Chicago (HFC), Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Illinois Joining Forces (IJF) and the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) to create the first all-women senior veterans flight from Illinois to Washington, D.C., in the October 7, 2020. This one-day trip will give the veterans the opportunity to visit the war memorials built in their honor, including the Women in Military Service For America Memorial and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, while enjoying camaraderie and fellowship with other women veterans.