Partly Cloudy, 77°
Weather sponsored by:

Letter to the Editor

Organizer thanks community for Wreaths Across America success


Posted

I wish to thank each and every one who participated in the 7th Annual Wreaths Across America program on Saturday, December 15 at the Keystone Heights Memorial Gardens cemetery.

This year our donations were over-whelming ($10,500+ which purchased a total of 1,050 wreaths), the audience (approximately 250+) was just wonderful, including the many children who participated in the program.

The Keystone Heights Elementary School Chorus directed by Melissa Mann, introduced by Tina Bullock, Clay County School Board member, the Cub Scouts from Interlachen and Keystone Heights United Methodist Churches and also Cub Scouts from Pack 362 ion Middleburg. It shows that we can teach our children (part of the WAA mission), they were just great.

Thank you to all the veterans motorcycle groups who entered our cemetery all in line. That was awesome, our audience from everywhere, within 100 miles of KH all around; I was told that there would always be a crowd when I was in charge, thank you my dear friends.

I want to thank the past Vice Mayor of Keystone Heights, Paul and Rena Yates along with Karen Lake our current mayor who presented me with a beautiful quilt with the American and Australian flags on it. It is really beautiful.

Also, a thank you to Keith Smith, Clay County Affairs officer and Mary Justino who presented me with a lovely bouquet, I am honored by my veterans, their family and friends who have supported me for the past 12 years with the Veterans Memorial Pathway (which I founded and designed) also the past 7 years with Wreaths Across America National program.

I will always be a veterans’ volunteer and leader until I can no longer do it or be here to do it. I want to thank all of the reporters, the speakers, Clint McFarland, owner of the public address system (band - Black Creek Rizin, chairs furnished by Bob Oehl, Wings of Dreams museum, Amvets 86, who furnished the coffee etc along with Johnnie’s BBQ, Hitchcock’s and Harvey’s, my 2 Chappies, all of my volunteer helpers, and of course all of my donors, new and older ones. God Bless You All. If I have missed anyone, please call me.

See you all next year, write date onto your 2019 calendar, Saturday, December 14th, 2019.

Your W.A.A. Locator & Chairman

Joan Jones and Staff (Pauline,

Lisa, Kellsie, Harry, Tim & Eddie)

Keystone Heights