Remember, Honor, Teach
What Is Wreaths Across Ripley County?
Wreaths Across Ripley County is a local subset of a national program, Wreaths Across America, which aims to place a live balsam wreath on every veterans grave in the United States. Through this program, we work to:
Remember the fallen,
Honor those who serve,
Teach the next generation the value of freedom.
This initiative allows our community to honor the sacrifices and contributions of over 4,000 veterans in Ripley County by adorning their final resting places with wreaths during the holiday season.
Each live, balsam veteran’s wreath was a gift of respect and appreciation, sponsored by an individual or organization and placed on a headstone by volunteers as a small gesture of gratitude for the freedom Americans enjoy. For centuries, fresh evergreens have been used as a symbol of honor and have served as a living tribute renewed annually. Wreaths Across Ripley County believes the tradition represents a living memorial that honors veterans, active-duty military, and their families. When each wreath is placed the service member’s name is said out loud, ensuring their memory lives on.
The Ripley County Community Foundation would like to thank the community, dedicated volunteers, generous sponsors, essential truck drivers, area officials, and members of the media for coming together in unity and supporting those who have protected our freedom. Each person has played an important part in this mission.
Donate to Wreaths Across Ripley County
Contributions to Wreaths Across Ripley County play a vital role in sustaining this program each year and are greatly appreciated! The price of one wreath in 2024 is $17.
Teaching the Next Generation
In 2023, Baylor Trucking dedicated a day to educate South Ripley Junior High students the significance of Wreaths Across Ripley County. Together, volunteers and students assembled wreaths that would later be put on veterans’ graves in Versailles cemeteries. This hands-on experience not only engaged students but also fostered a deepened awareness of the sacrifices made by those in their community.
In 2024, educational opportunities such as this will extend to each of the Ripley County Middle Schools, led by Versailles Ladies Auxiliary.
2023 Impact
In 2023, with the assistance of dedicated community volunteers, 4,323 veterans’ were honored across 56 local cemeteries, The effort extended into Franklin County, with Holy Family Cemetery in Oldenburg, St. Anne Cemetery in Hamburg, and St. Mary of the Rock Cemetery in St. Mary, joining the cause.
2022 Impact
2022 marked the inaugural year for Wreaths Across Ripley County, and the story of its inception is remarkable, with gratitude owed to a dedicated community member. Owen Menchhofer, a member of the Ripley County Historical Society, stumbled upon a small slip of paper while cleaning up a cemetery bearing the Wreaths Across America logo. Intrigued, he began researching the organization and its mission. He became passionate about what he discovered and approached the Ripley County Community Foundation with bringing this program to our community. From there, a lot of hard work and dedicated individuals brought Wreaths Across Ripley County to life, and we are thrilled by the outcome.
