The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 26 in Plant City once again honored those who served this holiday season by placing hundreds of wreaths at the graves of local veterans.
Pam McGregor, president of the Legion, said the group wanted to do something to honor local veterans that were placed in normal cemeteries. While the Legion donated $250 to Wreaths Across America, which places wreaths at the national cemeteries, the group also has worked to expand its annual holiday wreath program here in Plant City.
This year, the group will lay approximately 850 wreaths in two cemeteries. Three years ago the group started the tradition, laying 395 wreaths on local veteran’s graves at one cemetery. The next year, they expanded to a second cemetery and next year, McGregor says they are prepared to take on a third location.
Her hope is the Legion will one day have the finances and manpower to honor every local veteran’s grave in Plant City. Regardless of what the future holds, McGregor said the Legion can and will continue the tradition.
“We just think we shouldn’t let our veterans be forgotten,” she said. “We’ll continue doing it until we can’t walk.”