Maple Grove Cemetery looking for donations to honor deceased veterans

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) — Valley Chapel Methodist Church kicked off its fundraiser on Wednesday for Wreaths Across America , a national program that lays wreaths on veterans’ burial sites across the country.

Valley Chapel’s fundraiser will benefit Maple Grove Cemetery in Fairmont and will work to ensure that the veterans buried there aren’t forgotten. This is the third year that the cemetery is participating in Wreaths Across America.

Maple Grove Cemetery Board President Marcella Yarenchuk told 12 News that wreaths are $17 each and that there are 342 veterans buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.

“That’s a lot of money to try to raise yearly, and we ask other folks in the community and other organizations if they would like to sponsor a wreath even though it may not be for their loved one,” Yarenchuk said.

According to Yarenchuk, there are veterans from every American war in Maple Grove Cemetery, including soldiers from the Revolutionary War, and many of them likely don’t have relatives in the area to sponsor a wreath.

Wreath laying ceremonies will take place all across the country on Dec. 14, 2024. Maple Grove’s wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 1 p.m.

If you’re interested in donating, you can call Marcella Yarenchuk at 304-605-0491

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