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Bikers welcome to join Ride for the Wreath Saturday
The annual Ride for the Wreath in Fort Scott is Saturday, Sept. 13.
Proceeds will go to purchase wreaths for veterans' graves at Fort Scott National Cemetery No. 1.
The ride will begin near Skubitz Plaza in the parking lot just off of National Avenue and West Oak Street behind the Nu Grille restaurant and Sharky's Pub and Grub in Fort Scott.
Registration will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Kickstands up will be at 11. Anyone can attend.
"We don't care what you ride as long as you show up," said organizer Kevin Wagner. "We will have a large American flag for pictures of bikes, cars, and more during the registration process."
Local riders and those from across the region are expected to participate in the ride.
Wreaths will be placed at the cemetery the second Saturday in December (Dec. 13) as part of Wreaths Across America. Last year, enough funds were raised to purchase 150 wreaths for the cemetery.
The laying of the wreaths in Fort Scott has been going on about four years, with each year, more and more wreaths being purchased, said Wagner.
The idea for the annual ride, which takes place across America, began in 1992.
According to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine had an excess of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington.
In 2006, in response to thousands of e-mails and letters, Worcester Wreath expanded its wreath donations nationwide. With the help of the Civil Air Patrol and many others, ceremonies were held simultaneously at 230 locations, launching what is now Wreaths Across America.
In 2011, ceremonial wreaths for each branch of the military were sent to all of the participating state and national cemeteries, along with many local town cemeteries and monuments. Wreaths were also provided for 24 offshore cemeteries, including Normandy Beach. A large veterans' commemorative wreath was sent to each State House for the ceremony on the Monday prior to the WAA Saturday event.
Locally, the event is headed up by Wagner, Jim Scales, Wayne Sprenkle, and Michael Freeze.
"We are either veterans, sons of veterans, or previously worked as first responders," said Wagner of the group.
"Wayne and Michael participated in the wreath laying in Fayetteville, Ark., and saw that they had 100 percent coverage of the cemetery down there, which wasn't the case here.
"They proceeded to have a ride in Nevada to raise funds for the Fort Scott Cemetery, and continue to do so. Keith Yount and myself put a ride together in Fort Scott, because we live here and thought Bourbon County should be represented.
"In visiting with Richard Wheeler at the national cemetery, he has said that there are several graves that do not get decorated throughout the year. This is a good way for us to show our respect for what our veterans have done for us.
"Our major goal is for the entire cemetery to be covered with wreaths. Each grave is or should be special to someone.
"We ride to remember what the veterans have done and are doing presently to protect our freedoms," Wagner continued.
The 88-mile ride will go through the northern part of Bourbon County and into Mound City, and will finish up at the Hammond Community Center with a luncheon at the end of the ride.
Donations of $15 for the ride, $15 for T-shirts, and $7.50 for the meal are requested.
"For every $15 we receive, we can buy another wreath for the cemetery," said Wagner.
For information, contact him at 620-215-2174 or on Facebook at Ft. Scott National Cemetery #1 Wreaths Across America Ride or www.ftscottride4wreath.proboards.com.
"We will also be taking wreath orders for anyone wanting to place a wreath on a specific grave. You can also support us by going to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and purchasing a wreath for the Ft. Scott Cemetery, just be sure to specify which cemetery it should go to or it will go into the general account.
"To donate to our specific fund, our wreath acct is KS0015- Ft. Scott National Cemetery #1 Wreaths Across America Ride