On Saturday, Dec. 14, as part of the Wreaths Across America (WAA) effort, which places wreaths on the graves of those who served in the military, 3,000 wreaths will be distributed to cemeteries in the Pequea Valley and Octorara school districts. This is the sixth year that Gap resident Paula Diem has coordinated the project, which involves Pequea Valley schools, the Gap Fire Company, and about 100 members of the area Boy and Girl Scout organizations. "This year, we are honoring the Scouts who are our feet on the ground," said Diem. The Scouts will be honored during a special ceremony, which will be held at noon at the Pequea Valley Intermediate School (PVIS), 166 S. New Holland Road, Kinzers. The 30-minute ceremony will feature a speaker, wreaths presented by eight veterans, and a 21-rifle salute. Representatives of Parkesburg VFW Post 4480 will present the colors, and Pequea Valley High School (PVHS) sophomore Spencer Groff will play taps. The event is free and open to the community.

"It's a great ceremony," said Erik Orndorff, Pequea Valley School District (PVSD) superintendent.

After the ceremony, the eight wreaths presented to honor the Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard, and POW/MIAs will be transported to the Gap VFW building by Dick Martin for display by the VFW auxiliary.

To distribute the wreaths to graves in 30 cemeteries, Diem contacted Orndorff and John Trovato, PVHS principal. Each year, the district sends several students to the Gap Fire Company, where the wreaths will be delivered this year by a Tyson truck at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. "(The students) help, along with the community volunteers, to unload the wreaths and arrange them by cemetery so they are prepared to be delivered," said Diem.

"On Friday night, a team of eight volunteers mark each box of wreaths in four places," reported Diem. On Saturday, Dec. 13, representatives of fire companies located in PVSD and Octorara School District will pick up the wreaths and deliver them to cemeteries.

Orndorff and Trovato visit a different cemetery each year to help with the effort. This year, Diem suggested they place wreaths on the graves of Revolutionary War veterans. "We have (a total of) 100 Revolutionary War veterans (in the area), and each (grave) gets a wreath," noted Diem.

The relationship between the Gap WAA chapter and PVSD dates back to 2019 when Diem first organized the chapter. Diem asked PVSD for help, and Orndorff and Trovato stepped up to provide. Trovato was quick to point out that two PVHS teachers have been devoted participants. "We have two facilitators - Rob Dorshimer and Tyler Espie - who help support this really worthy cause," said Trovato. "They feel this is an important cause, and they recruit kids they think should be part of this."

WAA has its roots in Maine in the early 1990s. In 2005, the project began to gain national attention. Diem began her efforts in the Gap area after attending several WAA ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C. "We had six months to prepare," recalled Diem. "We started with 1,250 wreaths." The costs of the wreaths are covered by fundraisers and donations from local individuals and businesses.

Readers who would like to help with the local WAA effort may call 717-587-1315. More information about WAA may be found at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.