Homewood Boy Scout Troop #342 Continues to Make a Difference in Community

In life they honor their country; in death their country honors them.

Homewood Boy Scout Troop #342 continues to make a difference in our community for over 85 years. They were honored to place wreaths on almost 100 specific graves of friends, community leaders, and loved ones buried there that were requested by local community members. This annual tribute to local veterans and their fallen compatriots who do not have anyone to visit their grave has been embraced by these young men as they placed wreaths not knowing if anyone else would visit that grave this year. The quiet dedicated energy of the Boy Scouts placing wreaths reverently on each grave is a tremendous tribute to the veteran’s service as they follow the Boy Scout Law:

Homewood Boy Scout Troop 342 placed over 350 sponsored wreaths on the grave markers at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL on December 12, 2015. Currently, there are approximately 40,000 graves with an average of 18-22 burials per day. The troop goal is to have more wreaths sponsored next year.

Wreaths Across America was formed in 2007 to coordinate wreath placement at graves of fallen soldiers at over 700 participating cemeteries in all 50 states and 24 national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. All wreath placements are focused on the mission to: Remember those who served- Honor the fallen- and Teach the next generation about their service and the value of freedom. This year, 9,400 wreaths were placed at Abraham Lincoln.

On Martin Luther King Day of Service, the scouts will return to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL to remove the wreaths as they do every year.

If you would like to sponsor wreaths for next year at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL please contact Homewood Boy Scout Troop 342 at scoutmaster_troop_342@yahoo.com.

Boy Scout Troop #342 has been chartered since 1928 in Homewood and meets at Blackbear Lodge in Izaak Walton Preserve’s 193-acres of lakes and woodlands in Homewood, IL.

Boy Scout Law

A Scout is:

Trustworthy,

Loyal,

Helpful,

Friendly,

Courteous,

Kind,

Obedient,

Cheerful,

Thrifty,

Brave,

Clean,

and Reverent.

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