Wreath Laying Ceremony in Auburn, and nationwide, on Dec. 16

Wreaths Across America will hold its annual Wreath Laying Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 9 a.m. at the New Auburn Cemetery, 1040 Collins Drive. This nonprofit nationwide organization has been placing wreaths upon the graves of veterans since 1992. There are more than 2 million volunteers who gather to Remember, Honor and Teach at more than 4,000 volunteer locations throughout the 50 states and abroad. More that 2.7 million wreaths were laid last year. The ceremony will include competitive bagpiper Andrea Jones of Matthews, North Carolina, who will donate her time and talent to lead the joint Color Guard comprised of members of the Auburn Police Department and Placer County Sheriff's Office. The Auburn Area Honor Guard will perform the three-rifle volley (21-gun salute), and the Auburn Winds orchestra, led by conductor Jim Kepfer, will perform patriotic music along with vocalist Annie Beauchamp, who will sing the national anthem. Christian Motorcycle Group will provide complimentary coffee and pastries. The bagpiper will pipe "Amazing Grace" and bugler Craig Thomas will play TAPS. Ms. Jones will also travel on to Pasadena, where she is to perform in the Rose Bowl Parade. Weather permitting, an aircraft piloted by Captain Rex DeMartini of the Civil Air Patrol will conduct a flyover. The Master of Ceremonies is retired Rear Admiral (US Navy, Medical Corps) Bonnie Potter, who will introduce speakers representing the Placer County Board of Supervisors, Placer County Sheriff's Office, Auburn City Council and Auburn Police Department. A ceremonial wreath representing each of the military services will be laid upon the Memorial Wall. At the conclusion of the services, the public is invited to pick up a wreath previously staged throughout the cemetery and place it upon the grave of a veteran. Families with youngsters are encouraged to participate and when a wreath is placed, to speak that veteran's name out loud. It is said a person dies twice, once when his heart stops beating and again, when no one speaks his name. There is an abbreviated version of this ceremony immediately following at the Old Auburn Cemetery at the corner of Fulweiler and Nevada streets, with wreaths placed throughout that cemetery as well. Volunteers are welcomed to help remove the wreaths from boxes delivered earlier that morning and staged along the route. For more information, call Location Coordinators Marilyn Schneider at 831-521-8238 or Shirley Paris at 530-906-1920.