Wyuka Cemetery hosts annual Wreaths Across America ceremony

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony was held Saturday morning at Wyuka Cemetery, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The ceremony honored more than 2,000 soldiers who have sacrificed their life for the freedom of the United States since the revolutionary war.

Each soldier buried at Wyuka received a wreath on their headstone while their name was called out.

It is said that everyone dies twice, once when they take their last breath, and once when their name is said for the last time. Saying their names ensures their sacrifice isn’t forgotten.

Master of Ceremonies Chris Hove said this event is a time to remember those who lost their lives fighting for what we love.

“It’s a teaching moment,” Hove said. “It’s an opportunity for older folks and younger folks to recognize that our freedom is not free and that we appreciate what we have here in this country. It’s just a special moment in a time around the holidays when we have to be thankful for what we have.”

The annual tradition of Wreaths Across America started when Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, used his excess wreaths to decorate the headstones at Arlington National Cemetery.