The Dade County Historical Society is pleased to announce our plans to participate in the Wreaths Across America program held each year at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. We are pleased to be joined in this effort by the American Legion Post 106, American Legion Auxiliary for Post 106, and the Mary & Martha Christ Group of the Trenton United Methodist Church. The Mary & Martha Christ Group have participated in this cause in the past and are pleased to once again join in this effort.
This program is administered by a private nonprofit organization whose goal is to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran buried in national cemeteries for the Christmas holidays each year. Chattanooga National Cemetery has 46,000 graves and to date, the organization has been able to raise funds to place wreaths on about 10,000 graves each year. Because enough funds are not available to decorate each grave, the Chattanooga organization rotates the sections that are decorated. The cost to place a wreath is $15 and a specific grave can be designated to receive a wreath.
The Dade group’s goal is to place a wreath on every Dade County veteran’s grave. The first step to do this is to identify the veterans. The second step is to raise funds to buy the wreaths. The third step is to provide volunteers to locate the graves and place the wreaths on December 14, 2019. We are asking for the help of Dade County’s citizens to accomplish our goals.
How can you help? First, contact us with the name of your loved one buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. We are accepting not only the names of veterans from Dade County but also Dade County residents whose loved ones from anywhere are veterans buried in Chattanooga. Thus far we have identified over 100 veterans. See their names below.
Second, you can donate to the cause. Each wreath is $15, or $10 each for three or more wreaths. We will gladly accept all donations of all amounts to help purchase the wreaths. If you want to donate for a particular veteran, we will see that your money is used for his/her specific site.
Third, volunteer to fundraise or to physically help place the wreaths on December 14, 2019.
This is just the beginning of this campaign. We will keep you informed of our progress. To contact us with the name of a veteran, donate to the cause or volunteer to assist in this effort, please contact Gail Hedden at ghedden7@gmail.com or 423-987-3713, or send donations payable to WAA (Wreaths Across America) Dade County to 2267 Slygo Rd, Trenton GA 30752. Or call Julie Williams 423-802-9160 of the Mary and Martha Christ Group, or Rethal Alexander 423-364-4781 of the American Legion Auxiliary for more information.
This effort is just beginning so watch for more details in the future. Thank you for helping us succeed in this effort.
--Gail Hedden
ghedden7@gmail.com
William Michael Abney William Larry Hughes W W Williams
Sgt. Ray Allen Albert G Jacoway Jerry H Wirchball
Thomas Murray Anderson Zelpha Kennedy
Edward Wayne Andrews Mrs. Ruby King
William Luther Angle Ira James Lake
J C Clifford Ayers Maj John P Lee
Willie Lee Baker Charles Patrick Light
John J Barbee Joseph W Light
Richard Lwellyn Bennett Mrs. Stella Mae McCarty
Paul Franklin Boyd Charles Robert Mooneyhan
Clifford W Broadwater Carl Able Moore
William Hance Broom John W Moore
Thomas B Bullard Imogene Morgan
Pat Kenneth Carroll Randy Niceswanger
Alvin Castleberry James Patrick O’Connor Jr.
Robert J Chadwick George G Oliver
James C Cole John A Palmer
Lawrence J Cole Robert B Paris
Eric Jay Cornell George Patton
Floyd Fremon Crane Jr Leroy Morrison Peppers
Vernon Cureton Horace Grady Prince
Woodrow W Daniel Bert Raines
Walter L Daniels Jr George Wade Reeves
William C Densmore Ernest M Reynolds
Johnny Edward Drew Sr Pearl Rousseau
Paul Lamar Dugan B Frank Sells
Joseph B Fugatt Joe Lue Gene Shadowens
William Ray Fuller Willard Eugene Short
James Leonard Garner John W Shrader
Ollie Goodwin Bert Smith
Johnnie Hamby Douglas Smith
Willard Ray Harris Ernest Smith
John Thomas Harwell Roger Jay Smith
Roy Haskell Bonnie Ellen Spears
General Gene Herron Donald Lee Spurgin Jr
Clyde Hester Thaddeus Adam Stein
John Hobbs J O Stewart
Charles Wallace Hitt Jr Charles Raymond Street
Morrell Holcomb Donald Edward Street
Glenn Holleman James Hubert Taliffero
Bert W Holtzhower Allie Raymond Varnell Jr
Leonard E Holtzhower Donald Leete Wallace
Henry Wayne Hooper Charles Ward
