Nora Klem and Kinleigh Guynn, members of the Patoka Valley Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, performed a slow salute after placing a wreath at a marker.
Each December, the national organization Wreaths Across America honors deceased veterans with a wreath-laying ceremony. The goal is to remember and honor veterans while teaching youth about the values and sacrifices of those who have served.
This year, the 89 veterans buried at Shiloh Cemetery were included in the event, which featured a ceremony in the historic church and a talk from Junie Himsel on some of the cemetery’s history and the veterans buried there.
Afterward, representatives from all the armed forces presented wreaths for each service at the cemetery’s entrance. Then, members of the Civil Air Patrol and family members of the deceased veterans placed wreaths at each gravesite.
As wreaths were placed on the markers, the wreath layer stated the veteran’s name and recognized their service before rendering a slow salute.
The program began in Arlington Cemetery and is now in its 33rd year. On Saturday, Dubois County joined ranks with similar ceremonies honoring veterans throughout the United States.
Here are a few photos of this year’s event.
Callie Powell sang a patriotic version of the Leonard Cohen song, ‘Hallelujah’ at the close of the Saturday ceremony at the Shiloh Meeting House.
Delbert “Junie” Himsel gave an overview of the many veterans buried in Shiloh Cemetery including one of the few Revolutionary War veterans, Luther Adams.
Specialist Darrian Herrera, from the Indiana National Guard unit in Washington, Ind., was one of three soldiers providing traffic control for the event.
The crowd exited the meeting house to begin the wreath-laying ceremony at the cemetery entrance.
Steve Lindauer, a U.S. Marine Veteran and co-organizer of the event, placed a wreath before the U.S. Marine Corps marker.
Sam Schwenk, a Navy veteran, placed a wreath in front of the Merchant Marine marker.
Charles Dupps handed out rifles to the honor guard for the 21-gun salute.
Daryl Hensley, in a Continental Line Uniform, stood with the Honor Guard as they presented a 21-round salute during the event.
Klem and Guynn placed a wreath on one of the 89 veteran graves at Shiloh Cemetery.
Gary Sermersheim, an 11-year Army Veteran and volunteer, picked up flags from the grave markers after the event.
