SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Each Saturday, December 17^th, on National Wreaths Across America Day, throughout the United States at 10 am in every time zone, the mission to “Remember, Honor and Teach” is carried out by coordinated wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 3,400 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. In all, some 2.7 million evergreen wreaths were placed at cemeteries across the nation.

The annual remembrance was observed in the Court of Honor at the Mount Vernon Cemetery at 8201 Greenback Lane in Fair Oaks.

The ceremony, which was held in front of the Court of Honor at the Mount Vernon Cemetery, included the placement of individual wreaths in honor of each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the U.S. Space Force, with a shared message related to the importance of veterans in the history of the United States.

Members of the U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) from Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks presented the national colors. A moment of silence was observed before opening remarks by Wreaths regional Coordinator Celeste Cox which were followed by guest speaker, Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost and member of the local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) General John A. Sutter Chapter, who honored the sacrifice and service of service men and women throughout the world to preserve, protect and defend the freedoms we enjoy today.

Some 400 wreaths were individually placed beside memorial stones by family members, local Scout troops, the DAR and other community groups who sponsored them, said coordinator Celeste Cox, a regional location coordinator for the nonprofit.

“In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” she said. “We are proud to show our veterans and their families that we will not forget. We will never forget.”