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DAR, Elk Grove sponsor Wreaths Across America event

A Wreaths Across America event will be hosted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at Elk Grove Cemetery, southeast corner of Arlington Heights Road and Interstate 90.

The Eli Skinner Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is sponsoring the event in cooperation with the Elk Grove Village.

Wreaths Across America is a national event honoring military veterans and first responders. The event will join more than 2,700 cemeteries around the country on national Wreaths Across America Day.

Coordinated and led by local volunteers, funds have been raised to sponsor the placement of more than 2.5 million wreaths nationwide. The purpose of the event is to remember the fallen; honor those who serve; and teach our children the value of freedom. Visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Invited guests include officials from Elk Grove Village, Elk Grove Village VFW Post 9284, Elk Grove Township, Cook County and state representatives.

Patriotic exercises will include the presentation of colors by High School District 214 Naval Junior ROTC and a flag folding ceremony conducted by the Elk Grove Village Police Honor Guard, narrated by Elk Grove Village Trustee Christine Prochno.

Following the official ceremony, wreaths will be laid on the headstones of fallen service members and first responders.

Elk Grove Cemetery is the site of historically significant graves. Eli Skinner and Aaron Miner are the only two Revolutionary War patriots buried in Cook County. Headstones of early Elk Grove Township pioneers can be found in the cemetery.

Featured in the September issue of American Spirit magazine, the cemetery has been nationally recognized.

According to Retired Navy Master Chief Mary Arvidson, Eli Skinner Chapter NSDAR registrar, "The cemetery is a jewel of American history."

In addition to the Elk Grove Cemetery event, wreaths will be laid by NSDAR volunteers at local veterans' memorials as part of a continuing effort to remember veterans during the holiday season.

Schaumburg, Palatine, Arlington Heights, Prospect Heights, Long Grove, Roselle, Bartlett and Hanover Park memorials will be decorated with wreaths sponsored by volunteers.

Parking at the cemetery is restricted due to traffic conditions. Off-site parking has been arranged at Chase Bank, 100 E. Higgins Road, Elk Grove Village. A free shuttle bus will be provided. The bus will begin transporting attendees at 9:30 a.m.

For information, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.

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