Scouts and the community remember veterans with Wreaths Across America

Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·1 min read
Every headstone at Indiana Veterans Home cemetery received a Christmas wreath in remembrance of their services. Members of Boy Scout Troop 372, along with other members of the community, helped places the decorations.
Every headstone at Indiana Veterans Home cemetery received a Christmas wreath in remembrance of their services. Members of Boy Scout Troop 372, along with other members of the community, helped places the decorations.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Christmas morning dawned with a white blanket of snow covering the ground, and at the Indiana Veterans Home, recently-placed wreaths mark each grave, remembering the service of nearly 3,000 departed veterans.

The community came together eight days before Christmas to place the red-ribbon Christmas wreaths at the headstones of the buried veterans. The decorations are part of an annual program, and a each wreath represents a life lived and a life lost.

Gabe Rush, kneeling, and Owen Babiak, members of Boy Scout Troop 372 in Lafayette, decorate graves Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at the Indiana Veterans Home in West Lafayette. The Christmas decorations are part of Wreaths Across America.
Gabe Rush, kneeling, and Owen Babiak, members of Boy Scout Troop 372 in Lafayette, decorate graves Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at the Indiana Veterans Home in West Lafayette. The Christmas decorations are part of Wreaths Across America.

Among those community members were about six Boy Scouts from Troop 372 in Lafayette, said Dave Henderson, assistant Scout master.

“We’ve been doing this for a few years now," Henderson said. "It’s part of Wreaths Across America. There are troops and crews that go out and do this nationwide.”

“It’s open to the community," said Dana Vann, who fundraises throughout the year for the wreaths. "Arconic sent people out to unload them wreaths.”

Owen Babiak, a member of Boy Scout Troop 372 from Lafayette, is one of six troop members who helped decorate grave sites Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at the Indiana Veterans Home with Christmas wreaths.
Owen Babiak, a member of Boy Scout Troop 372 from Lafayette, is one of six troop members who helped decorate grave sites Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at the Indiana Veterans Home with Christmas wreaths.

Christmas 2022 isn't even over, and the Wreaths Across America already is planning for 2023 graveside decorations.

Vann said the wreath suppliers offer a buy-two, get-four special until Jan 15.

Normally, the wreaths are $15 a piece, so by spending $30, the local Wreaths Across America will receive four grave decorations, Vann said.

To participate, supporters can order the wreaths online at wreathsacrossamerica.org, Vann said. But when buying online, use the location code of INSSHL, which is the West Lafayette veterans' home site. Then make sure to enter the fundraising code of IN005, which signs up for the two extra wreaths at no charge.

Anyone having trouble ordering online may mail a check to Vann at 717 Wexford Drive, Lafayette, 47905, and she'll make sure the orders are placed.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Scouts and the community remember veterans with Wreaths Across America