ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It’s national Wreaths Across America Day. The day is dedicated to remembering fallen service members, honoring those who serve, and teaching others about freedom.

For decades, Wreaths Across America has organized the tribute to service members. Volunteers were out placing wreaths at the Western New York National Cemetery in Pembroke.

There was a short ceremony that includes the presentation of colors, national anthem, and ceremonial laying of wreaths by each military branch. Following the ceremony, family members who have loved ones buried there, laid wreaths on the headstones first.

There are over 1,600 headstone, with a goal to have a wreath placed on each one.

Churchville Creekside Cemetery joined more than 4,000 locations across the country in hosting a wreath-laying ceremony.

The 2023 theme for Wreaths Across America Day is “Serve and Succeed.”

“There are many ways to serve your community and country, and just as many definitions of success. We hope through focusing on those stories of success we will help change the dialogue around what it means to serve your country,” says Karen Worcester the executive Director of Wreaths Across America #ServeAndSucceed

More than 500 wreaths will be placed at the headstones of those fallen service members’ graves at the Churchville cemetery.

Want to volunteer? Click here to find the closest participating location near you.

Participating locations near Rochester, New York:

• Town of Gates Community Center
• Westside Cemetery & Chili Rural Cemetery
• Mt. Hope Cemetery
• Churchville Creekside Cemetery
• Riga Cemetery
• Webster Union Cemetery
• Webster Rural Cemetery
• Hillside Cemetery
• Union Hill Cemetery
• St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery
• Victor Town Hall
• Village of Victor Cemetery
• Boughton Hill Cemetery
• Walworth, Freewill, Baker, Gould, and West Walworth cemeteries
• South Farmington Friends Cemetery
• Hunn Cemetery
• Bristol Center & Vincent Hill cemeteries
• Coye & Wilder cemeteries
• Academy Cemetery
• Warsaw Cemetery