Christians place wreaths on their doors at Christmas time as a sign of their faith and belief in eternal life.

Similarly, Wreaths Across America places the traditional decorations on the graves of military veterans as a symbol of the nation’s enduring gratitude and a gesture to honor our heroes for their sacrifices.

The Jane Bain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution would like nothing more than to place a wreath on every veteran’s grave within Alliance City Cemetery. However, with approximately 1,500 veterans laid to rest at the site, that is a tall order.

Instead, the group aims to place 500 wreaths on graves in 2023.

Following a visit from Deborah Hughes and Cindy Bresson to a recent Alliance Rotary Club meeting to explain the program, the local DAR chapter is 50 wreaths closer to that goal as the local Rotary board pledged to purchase 50 wreaths to be placed at Alliance City Cemetery.

Hughes and Bresson gave Rotarians a lesson in both their organization as well as the Wreaths Across America program, which has a yearlong mission to remember the fallen, honor those that serve, and teach the next generation about the value of freedom.

The program started in 1992 in Harrington, Maine, when wreath maker Morrill Worcester found himself with a surplus of 5,000 wreaths during the holiday season and used it as an opportunity to pay homage to veterans and arranged for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery. The tribute has been held annually ever since with the Worcester family and other volunteers forming Wreaths Across America in 2007.

In 2022, Wreaths Across America placed 2.7 million wreaths on gravesites at more than 3,700 locations in all 50 states, at sea, and abroad. All wreaths used in Wreaths Across America are hand made in the United States of fresh Maine balsam.

Locally, 330 wreaths were placed throughout Alliance City Cemetery in 2022, leaving approximately 1,170 veteran graves without a remembrance wreath.

Those wishing to sponsor a wreath at the cost of $17 each at Alliance City Cemetery can do so by visiting wreathsacrossamerica.org/OH0274P. The local Jane Bain Chapter raises funds for its organization through the program, receiving $5 for each wreath sponsored.

Those wishing to sponsor a wreath for specific graves can do so. However, in those cases, it is better to get in touch with representatives of the Jane Bain Chapter through the chapter’s Facebook page or via email at janebainchapternsdar@gmail.com to receive and fill out an order form. Sponsors of wreaths for specific gravesites must be able to provide details of the location of the grave within the cemetery.

This year, National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, December 16. A ceremony, which is open to anyone who would like to attend, will be held at noon at Alliance City Cemetery and will be followed by placing of the wreaths.

For information about Wreaths Across America, call 877-385-9504 or visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.

ABOUT DAR AND THE JANE BAIN CHAPTER
Founded in 1890, DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical service organization for women, all of whom verified their bloodline back to a patriot in the American Revolution. However, patriots were not only soldiers in battle. They were also people, regardless of race, who swore an oath or paid supply taxes to the Continental Army to fight the Revolutionary War.

To join, any woman 18 years or older must show documentation of birth, marriage and death, as well as the Revolutionary War service of the ancestor. The lineage must be blood-related. Bresson and Hughes said DAR will help potential prospective members research their genealogy to verify their eligibility into the group.

There are approximately 3,000 chapters across the United States and over 1 million women have joined DAR since it started. DAR’s mission is to preserve history, educate children and honor those who serve the nation.

The Jane Bain Chapter, which is based in Alliance, is one of four in Stark County and was founded on June 21, 1916 and originally petitioned to be the Molly Stark Chapter. However, another chapter already claimed that name and the local group was assigned the name of Jane Bain, who was the wife of John McKnitt Alexander, a legislator and a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, from Pennsylvania. The Meckleiburg Declaration was signed in May of 1775, one year prior to the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The service group performs many good works in the community, including donations of children’s books to shelters, donations to food banks, and the Wreaths Across America project, just to name a few.

To learn more about Jane Bain chapter, visit the group’s Facebook page or send an email to janebainchapternsdar@gmail.com.