Harrington group seeks sponsors for wreaths to honor fallen vets

HARRINGTON — A historical group is far short of its fundraising goal to ensure thousands of fallen veterans are honored this year — ahead of a fast-approaching deadline.

There are sponsors for less than a quarter of the 3,500 wreaths the Greater Harrington Historical Society hopes to place at the headstones of veterans as part of the national Wreaths Across America effort, said Doug Poore, coordinator for the nonprofit.

About 2,700 memorials still need sponsors, he said. And there is little time to raise the remaining funds: Groups across the country will place the wreaths Dec. 16.

Each donation brings the effort closer to its goal of ensuring every fallen veteran is remembered for service to the country. In addition, the support helps local partners, like the historical society, which receive funding from the national group for every sponsorship.

“The community, as a whole, wins twice,” Mr. Poore said.

Sponsorships are $17 each, and there is no limit on how many wreaths an individual or group can fund. For information, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/159284.

The society is coordinating efforts for wreaths at 11 cemeteries, including for 1,700 fallen veterans at Hollywood Cemetery in Harrington. Several other groups are involved, including Delaware Helping Warriors Outdoors and American Heritage Girls Troop DE2024.

Mr. Poore has spent time learning the life stories of those who served, including nurses, war heroes and one man, buried in Sharon Hills Odd Fellows Cemetery, near Camden, who was a drummer boy in the War of 1812 and later lived through the Civil War.

Veterans and their families all sacrificed, he said. Some gave their lives. Others missed birthdays, graduations or holidays.

“Each one of those veterans has a story. ... Their families have stories,” he said. With the wreaths, he added, “it’s not only just honoring that person, it’s thanking everybody.”