Wreaths Across America for Illinois
State House Wreath Ceremony December 7, 2012 ~ National Wreaths Across America event December 15, 2012
Our Mission: to Remember - Honor - and Teach
Remember the fallen;Honor those who serve;
Teach our children the value of freedom.
Our mission, “Remember, Honor, Teach”, is carried out in part by coordinating wreath laying ceremonies on a specified Saturday in December at Arlington, as well as veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. We also organize a week of events including international veteran’s tributes, ceremonies at State Houses, and a week-long “Veteran’s Parade” between Maine and Virginia. We stop along the way to spread our message about the importance of remembering our fallen heroes, honoring those who serve, and teaching our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms.
Wreaths Across America™ feels strongly that we do not “decorate” graves. We are honoring all veterans and active military by placing wreaths on the headstones of veterans. The fresh evergreens are a symbol used for centuries to recognize honor and a living tribute renewed annually.
We invite you to join us for the Statehouse wreath ceremony to be held December 7, 2012 11:00AM on at the DAV during the Pearl Harbor Day ceremony – Springfield, IL. This statehouse wreath symbolizes the departure of the wreaths from Harrington, MA on their trek to Arlington.
http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/events/state-house-ceremonies/
Location Leader: Chaplain Steve Holden, United States Emergency Chaplains Corps
Contact Number: (217) 963-2772 chap1070@aol.com
We invite you to join us at any of the wreath-laying ceremonies to be held nation-wide concurrently on Saturday, December 15th, 2012 at 11:00 AM (Noon EST). http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/locations/
Alton National Cemetery - ILANCA
Location Address: 600 Pearl St Alton IL 62002
Location Graves: 540
Location Veteran Graves: 540
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: Margaret Hopkins
Telephone: 618-474-2005
E-mail: hopkins1014@sbcglobal.net
Bloomington - Korean War/ Vietnam Memorial - ILKVMB
Location Address: Miller Park Bloomington IL 61701
Location Graves: N/A
Location Veteran Graves: N/A
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: No - Ceremonial Only
Volunteer Location Leader: Larry Wilder
Telephone: 309-766-6954
Contact Number: 309-766-6954 larry.wilder.a5gy@statefarm.com
Bourbonnais - St. George Catholic Cemetery - ILSGCB
Location Address: 5272 East 5000 North Rd Bourbonnais IL 60914
Location Graves: 1200
Location Veteran Graves: 54
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: Mary Ann Kingsnorth
Telephone: 815-370-2297
E-mail: mimk05@aol.com
Danville National Cemetery Danville - ILDNCD
Location Address: 1900 E. Main Danville IL 61832
Location Graves: 11000
Location Veteran Graves: 11000
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: David Switzer
Telephone: 217-554-4550
Lead Squadron or Group: Patriot Guard Riders - Illinois
Location Leader: Dave Switzer
Contact Number: 217-497-6682 dswitz58@hotmail.com
http://www.patriotguard.org/ALLForums/tabid/61/view/topics/forumid/293/Default.aspx
Effingham, IL- Veterans Memorial
Location Leader: John W Schimmelpfenning
11229 E 1125th Ave Effingham, IL 62401-6588
Contact Number: 217-536-5209
Elwood - Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery - ILALNE
Location Address: 20953 W. Hoff Rd Elwood IL 60421
Location Graves: 30000
Location Veteran Graves: 30000
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: Debbie Smothers
E-mail: proudarmysis4@sbcglobal.net
Contact Number: 815-723-6960 or cell 815-693-3215
http://www.operationcarepackages.org/Christmas/WreathsAcrossAmerica.html
Hoffman Estates - Cabela's Hoffman Estates Store Wreaths Across America Tribute - ILCHES Location Address: 5225 Prairie Stone Parkway Hoffman Estates IL 60192
Location Graves: NA
Location Veteran Graves: NA
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: No - Ceremonial Only
Volunteer Location Leader: Diane Schneider
Telephone: 847-645-0400
E-mail: diane.schneider@cabelas.com
Fox Lake - K.K. Hamsher Funeral Home - ILKKHF
Location Address: Fox Lake IL 60020
Location Graves: na
Location Veteran Graves: na
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: Mike Carroll
Telephone: 847-587-2100
E-mail: hamsher1212@sbcglobal.net
Great Lakes - Naval Station Great Lakes Cemetery - ILNSGL
Location Address: 2601 E Paul Jones St Great Lakes IL 60088
Location Graves: 200+
Location Veteran Graves: 200+
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: No - Ceremonial Only
Volunteer Location Leader: Valerie McDonald
Telephone: 313-410-7170
E-mail: nwcamcdonald@yahoo.com
La Salle - Illinois Valley Area Ceremony ILPPLS
Location Address: 1001 Fifth St La Salle IL 61301
Location Graves: Ceremony held at Veterans home and the wreaths are laid at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens
Location Veteran Graves:
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: Toni Lucas
Telephone: 270-703-9799
E-mail: teddibera@gmail.com or grannie@comcast.net
Location Leader: Toni Lucas
Contact Number: 270-703-9799
Marseilles - Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial - ILMECM
Location Address: 200 River Front Dr Marseilles IL 61341
Location Graves: 6345 Names
Location Veteran Graves: 6345 Names
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Location Leader: Craig Herkes
Contact Number: 815-462-5932 H / 630-638-8032 C cherkes@chdeli.com
McLean - DAV #60- ILDAV60
Lead Squadron or Group: DAV #60- Illinois
Location Leader: Cleo Jordan
Contact Number: 309-874-2717 dav60cleo@aol.com
Mound City National Cemetery Mound City - ILMNMC
Location Leader: Becky Kleckner
Contact Number: 618-521-5228 bekec12@gmail.com
Peoria Springdale Cemetery - ILSCPE
Location Address: 3014 N Prospect Rd Peoria IL 61603
Location Graves: 70000
Location Veteran Graves: unknown (around 500)
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: Jon Austin
Telephone: 309-681-1400
E-mail: jon@springdalecemetery.com
Rankin - Rankin Veterans Memorial Monument - ILRVMM
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: No - Ceremonial Only
Volunteer Location Leader: Brenda Mundell
Telephone: 765-447-2728
E-mail: brenjmu@aol.com
Rock Island National Cemetery Rock Island - ILRINR
Arsenal Bldg 118 Rock Island IL 61299
Location Graves: 22373
Location Veteran Graves: 15000
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Lead Squadron or Group: Quad City Composite Squadron CAP
Location Leader: Lt. Col. Thomas Nielsen
Contact Number: 309-797-1588 il008@mediacombb.net
Schaumburg - St. Peter's Lutheran Church Cemetery - ILSTPL
Location Address: 202 East Schaumburg Rd Schaumburg IL 60194
Location Graves:
Location Veteran Graves: 25
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: Brendan Seyring
Telephone: 847-651-6895
E-mail: schaumburgwreaths@gmail.com
Springfield - Camp Butler National Cemetery - ILCBNS
Location Address: 5063 Camp Butler Rd Springfield IL 62707
Location Graves: 23000
Location Veteran Graves: 23000
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: David McKnelly and Mike Lee
Telephone: 217-415-6464 or 217-741-3009
E-mail: david_mcknelly@att.net or biker1950@comcast.net
Lead Squadron or Group: American Legion Riders Post 32
Tuscola - Military Memorial - ILMMTL
Location Address: Douglas County Courthouse 401 South Center St Tuscola IL 61953
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Volunteer Location Leader: April Kauffman
Telephone: 217-369-5480
E-mail: adk217@yahoo.com
Quincy - Sunset Cemetery at Veterans Home -, IL
Lead Squadron or Group: Amvets Post 104
Location Leader: Teresa Pickle
Contact Number: 217 222 9571 gaptip@sbcglobal.net
Quincy National Cemetery Quincy - ILQNCQ
Location Address: 36th & Main St Quincy IL 62301
Location Graves:
Location Veteran Graves:
Accepting Sponsorship Wreaths: Yes
Lead Squadron or Group: Amvets Post 104
Location Leader: Teresa Pickle
Contact Number: 217 222 9571 gaptip@sbcglobal.net
Washington, IL - Glendale Cemetery
Location Leader: Carol K Moss
Contact Number: 309-444-9076 Joeeagle@frontier.com
Wreaths Across America was formed as a non-profit organization (501-C3 status - EIN 20-8362270) in 2007. In direct response to the many letters and requests from supporters all around the Country they too could get involved and bring the Arlington Wreath Project experience to their local communities. If you would like to help, please sponsor one or more wreaths to be laid at one of the over 200 state and national cemeteries all across the country. Please sponsor a wreath at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/act-now/ What started over 20 years ago as one's man's dream to honor Veterans with Maine wreaths for the holidays, has become an annual event cherished by many. Humbled with a new understanding about the impact the Arlington Wreath Project has made, not only in honoring the dead, but recognizing the sacrifices of the living. Morrill Worcester - President of Worcester Wreath Company committed himself to doing more by reaching out across the country.
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