Lake Tahoe DAR hosts Wreaths Across America

Members of Lake Tahoe Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) joined groups from across the country on Saturday, December 14 for a Wreaths Across America ceremony. This was the first time it was held in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The ceremony, held at happy Homestead Cemetery, began at 9:00 AM with a moment of silence. Ceremony participants included DAR officers and members, members of American Legion Post 795 and the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, firefighters from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, Cemetery Director Mike Warren, Gold Star Mother Patty Smith, bagpiper Maria de Lallo and vocal soloist Amanda de Lallo.

Wreaths Across America’s motto is: “Remember-Honor-Teach.” It is a nation-wide effort to honor our veterans, active military personnel and first responders. Each year, Wreaths Across America ceremonies are held on the second Saturday of December at national cemeteries, state veterans’ cemeteries, local cemeteries where veterans are interred, at veterans’ monuments and on ships at sea. The ceremony includes the placement of seven decorated wreaths (five for each branch of the armed forces, one for POW/MIA’s, one for our local first responders). Currently, the wreaths are on display at Happy Homestead Cemetery’s Court of Honor.

The Daughters of the American Revolution has a record of service to our nation’s military, veterans and first responders that dates back to its 1890 beginnings. Lake Tahoe Chapter will be offering the Wreaths Across America ceremony annually. Its members hope the ceremony becomes a Holiday tradition in the Lake Tahoe area.

DAR members in photo: Kneeling, L to R: Secretary Shari Bera, Dr. Karen Borges, Vice Regent Rosemary Manning, Dr. Trish Ferraro. Seated, L to R: Joy Bera (Shari’s daughter - a member of Children of the American Revolution), Carrie Champness, Sally Holcombe, Regent, Lake Tahoe Chapter NSDAR, Cyndy Brown-Carlson, Registrar Gloria Gibbel, Chaplain Dawn Hill.