On Saturday, Dec. 16, volunteers for Wreaths Across America came to Culpeper National Cemetery to remember and honor our veterans. As volunteers lay the remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes, they say each veteran’s name aloud.
Three days before, Patricia Taylor-Hunt, a volunteer for the annual wreath laying, reached out to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) looking for volunteers to help unload a truckload of wreaths at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 15. REC’s volunteers were excited and ready to help.
By Thursday afternoon, the time got bumped to 7 a.m. to allow for three military funerals scheduled to begin Friday morning. To help unload the wreaths quickly before the funerals began, REC’s volunteers grew from the initial two requested to a group of 11.
“With all of the volunteers who showed up early, ready to help unload the wreaths, we got it done in 30 minutes,” Patricia said.
REC’s volunteers included Jeff Scheidemantle, System Inspector; Steve Coates, Distribution Designer; Travis McCourt, Distribution Designer; Matt Aylor, Distribution Designer; Don Diamantis, Lineman; Ryan Bache, First Class Lineman; Ricky Apel, Line Foreman; Brandon Pritt, First Class Lineman; Bailey Christian, Apprentice Lineman; Chap Morris, Lead Lineman; and Rodney Taylor, General Foreman.
How to Get Involved
Friends of the Culpeper National Cemetery supports the annual Wreaths Across America. Until Jan. 16, for every two wreaths sponsored ($34 value) the cemetery will receive three additional wreaths at no cost ($85 value). To sponsor wreaths for December 2024 to be laid at the Culpeper National Cemetery, visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/VA0638.
