WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – With the holiday season approaching, the Horizon West American Legion Post 419 is working tirelessly to ensure that every veteran laid to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha is honored during this year’s Wreaths Across America event on Dec. 13.
For Navy veteran Jessica Makin, Second Vice Commander of Post 419, the mission is deeply personal and profoundly meaningful.
“The biggest part is to teach people what it means to honor a veteran,” Makin said.
She said more than 2,500 veterans are buried at Woodlawn Memorial, and volunteers from Post 419 are committed to placing a wreath at each gravesite.
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Makin said their Wreaths Across America event will begin with wreath placement at 9 a.m., followed by a ceremony at 11 a.m at Woodlawn Memorial Park located at 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Riod in Gotha.
But before the wreaths can arrive, the group faces an urgent deadline. They must finalize their shipment numbers by midnight on Monday, Dec. 1, and as of now, they have sponsorship for 614 wreaths—short of the total of their goal.
Relying solely on donations, the Post has received help from volunteers to bring awareness to the community to help bridge the gap. Each wreath costs $17.
“We’re spreading this through Facebook, social media, friends, family—all of this comes together and it’s word of mouth,” she said.
Walking through the cemetery, Makin says how there is significance in their mission that is impossible to miss. Headstones marked Purple Heart, Prisoner of War, World War I, World War II, and various military branches all tell the stories of sacrifice.
Some veterans rest beside their spouses. All lie beneath the American flag.
“We may not know every veteran that’s placed here individually,” Makin said, “but they deserve to be honored, and that’s our goal.”
If you would like to sponsor a wreath or sign up to volunteer, visit Wreaths Across America and select Horizon West American Legion Post 419.