Wreaths Across Ripley County Ceremony, Wreath Laying Details Announced

All 4,822 veterans laid to rest in the county will be honored this holiday season.

St. Nicholas School students participating in Wreaths Across Ripley County. Photo provided.

(Ripley County, Ind.) - The Ripley County Community Foundation is proud to announce its continued participation in the national Wreaths Across America (WAA) program. This marks the fourth year of Wreaths Across Ripley County, a local effort to ensure that all 4,822 veterans laid to rest in Ripley County will be Remembered this holiday season.

What is ‘Wreaths Across Ripley County’?

Wreaths Across Ripley County is a local chapter of the national WAA initiative with a mission to ‘Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach our children the value of freedom’. Each December, volunteers across the country place wreaths on veterans’ graves to show gratitude and respect.

The Importance of Using a Live Wreath

Each live, balsam veteran’s wreath is 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.

Each wreath is made of 10 live bouquets, symbolizing the attributes that define our nation’s service members. When each wreath is placed the service member’s name is said out loud, ensuring their memory lives on.

2025 Theme: “Keep Moving Forward”

This year’s theme was inspired by the last words of Captain Joshua Byers, United States Army, KIA, in Fallujah, Iraq, July 23, 2003. Joshua Byers was the Company Commander of Fox Troop in the 2/3ACR service in Iraq in 2003 when an IED struck his Humvee. As the smoke filled the air, Josh gave his driver a last command: “…keep moving forward.” Though Josh didn’t make it home, this command saved lives and became a battle cry for his unit and family.

“There will always be challenges to overcome as individuals, communities and a country, but we must keep moving forward together,” said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America.

Civics Education and Community Engagement

This year, Wreaths Across Ripley County will welcome 8th grade students from across Ripley County to participate in the program, allowing them to connect classroom learning with meaningful community service. Students will learn how a wreath represents the 10 special qualities a US veteran embodies: 1. BELIEF in a greater good, 2. LOVE for each other, 3. STRENGTH, work ethic, & character, 4. HONESTY & integrity, 5. HUMILITY, 6. AMBITIONS & aspirations, 7. OPTIMISM for America, 8. CONCERN for the future, 9. PRIDE in their duties, and 10. HOPES & DREAMS that didn’t always come true, but left them with no regrets. Students will each assemble a wreath and then lay them on veterans’ graves in a local cemetery, creating a powerful and personal connection to the legacy of service and sacrifice.

Ceremony Details

The Ripley County Community Foundation invites you to join us as we host a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday, December 13th, beginning at 12:00P.M. at the Ripley County Courthouse in the Versailles Town Square to honor our veterans and their service. This special ceremony will kick off the Wreaths Across Ripley County annual effort to place a wreath on every grave of our local heroes and is your chance to come together as a community and pay tribute. We hope to see you there as we remember and honor those who have served.

Supporting the Mission Wreaths Across Ripley County aims to honor over 4,800 veterans this year. We invite you to make a gift and sponsor a wreath – each wreath costs $17 and a portion of each sponsorship will support an endowment for the perpetual benefit of this program and local veterans. Your gift can be mailed to the Ripley County Community Foundation, 13 E. George Street, Suite B, Batesville, IN 47006, or through our website, www.rccfonline.org.