By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO — There’s some local incentive for sponsorships for Wreaths Across America at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Teresa Townsend, WAA’s location coordinator for the cemetery just north of Millsboro, has a match offer that continues into mid-January.

Through her local group, until Jan. 14, a sponsorship of two wreaths equates to five total wreaths, purchasing four wreaths equals 10, and 10 equals 25. In December, those are to be placed on graves and columbaria at the cemetery, where more than 4,000 veterans and spouses are interred.

“They can go through any local sponsorship group to get the match promo, but my sponsorship group is the only one at the Millsboro cemetery that is set up so that for every two wreaths sponsored, we get one free (in addition to the match),” said Ms. Townsend. “That extra wreath is because of my sponsorship group.”

Single wreaths are $15.

To take advantage of this bonus match, visit here. Scroll down to “Find a Specific Group” beneath “How We Teach” and enter Ms. Townsend’s group ID, DE0016.

A similar incentive in 2019 brought a response that enabled every grave to receive a wreath, trucked in from Maine. It has been that way since, with complete wreath coverage in the cemetery also in 2020 and 2021.

“That is actually how, in 2019, we were able to get 100% coverage for all of our veteran heroes at the Millsboro cemetery. We received almost 1,500 wreaths free in 2019,” said Ms. Townsend.

Additionally, last month’s National Wreaths Across America Day drew an estimated 1,000 volunteers to assist in placement.

The wreath-retirement ceremony will be Jan. 18, with removal of more than 3,500 wreaths, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

“Our volunteer base for that ceremony has increased exponentially in the past few years. We have one local business that actually shuts down for the morning, and all of their employees come and help us,” said Ms. Townsend.

That’s a noticeable change from years ago, when she recalls being “out in that field where it’s just me, the cemetery staff and a handful of our local Delaware National Guard removing the wreaths. We are so very grateful for those that come out for the wreath retirement.”

Those volunteering for the Jan. 18 event are asked to dress according to the weather and bring a rake, if possible.

Wreaths are placed in a dumpster, which is taken to the Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown. There, inmates remove balsam from the metal frames and recycle both components.