Demorest Mayor Jerry Harkness presented a $1,400 check to the Grant-Reeves VFW Post Friday morning for Wreaths Across America. According to Demorest City Manager Mark Musselwhite, this was an opportunity for the city to honor those veterans who are buried in the city’s cemetery.
Musselwhite explained there are about 60 to 70 veterans buried in the city’s cemetery. The city is confirming that number to ensure they have enough wreaths to place on headstones during the Wreaths Across America ceremony that the VFW post and the city will hold at noon on Saturday, December 16th.
Musselwhite stated, “It was something that touched my heart when Barry (Church) came in here with so much excitement. It’s pretty deafening to hear his excitement. I am glad the council saw the need and agreed to do it.” He added, “I’m excited to be there on December 16th. My grandson will be there. He won’t understand it, but we will be there to explain it to him.”
VFW member and Wreath Coordinator Barry Church explained that he wanted to use Demorest as a pilot project this year to see if there was interest among the cities that owned cemeteries to become involved with the Wreaths Across America event. Demorest was chosen because of its central location in the county.
Church expressed his thoughts about the donation from Demorest, “It’s fantastic!” He stated to Now Habersham that Musselwhite and the Demorest City Council were “totally supportive of it.”
He shared his goal for the program. “What my goal ultimately is, to have as many wreaths on as many veterans’ graves as we possibly can.” He added, “Maybe between now and next year, talk to some of the other cities to see if they want to participate.”
This year the Demorest Cemetery will join the VFW Cemetery and the Old Clarkesville Cemetery with formal wreath-laying ceremonies at noon on December 16th.
