During the annual Wreaths Across America event you can honor a fallen veteran at Andersonville National Cemetery/NPS

On December 16 you can honor a military veteran at Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia as part of the annual Wreaths Across America event.

At 12 p.m. that day the Civil Air Patrol will conduct a brief ceremony honoring America's armed forces in the Andersonville National Cemetery, which is part of the historic site. This ceremony is open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a wreath for placement on a veteran’s grave. After the ceremony, attendees can help remember fallen veterans by placing wreaths sponsored through Wreaths Across America on graves in the national cemetery. 

Wreaths Across America is a national program that encourages individuals, community groups, and families to sponsor wreaths for placement in national cemeteries throughout the United States. These wreaths may be placed on specific graves, or left undesignated to place on one of thousands of unvisited graves. Each year, between 500 and 800 wreaths are donated through this program for placement at Andersonville National Cemetery. 

The park's goal is to ensure that each of the more than 20,000 gravesites in the cemetery is decorated with a wreath at least once. To accomplish this, undesignated wreaths are placed sequentially and rotated from one cemetery section to the next each year. For 2017, undesignated wreaths will be placed in Section D, Civil War Section E, and the Memorial Section. 

Beginning December 1, wreaths no larger than 20 inches and floral blankets no larger than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted in the cemetery. Wreaths should be brought in person, or delivered by a florist, directly to the gravesite. To find the location of a specific grave, visit this site or stop at the National Prisoner of War Museum for assistance.

“During the rush of the holiday season, the annual Wreaths Across America event offers a moment to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by our fallen military,” said Andersonville Superintendent Charles Sellars. “For some, it is an occasion to cherish the memory of a loved one or an ancestor buried here at Andersonville National Cemetery. For others, it is a way to honor a fallen soldier who may no longer be visited by anyone.”

Andersonville National Historic Site is located 10 miles south of Oglethorpe, Georgia, and 10 miles northeast of Americus, Georgia, on Georgia Highway 49. The national park features the National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville National Cemetery and the site of the historic Civil War prison, Camp Sumter.

Andersonville National Historic Site is the only national park within the National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. Park grounds are open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The National Prisoner of War Museum is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily. Admission is free.