Annual Wreaths Across America State House Ceremony

The Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association and Rhode Island House Veterans Affairs Committee will host the Annual Wreaths Across America State House Ceremony in the State Room, Providence, Rhode Island, Monday, December 12, 2016, beginning at 12 noon with the Wreath Laying in the Garden of Heroes, Southwest Lawn of the State House, from 12:15 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Wreaths Across America’s State House ceremonies serve as a kickoff to a week-long series of events designed to raise awareness and appreciation for the sacrifices of our nation’s veterans and their families. The ceremonies take place in most of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. and have a particular focus on family during the holidays. Volunteers conduct the State House ceremonies each year in their respective state capitols. Dignitaries and special guests are invited to speak in honor of our veterans and active military. The wreath-laying ceremonies are nonpolitical. All groups and members of the community are invited to attend.

Participating in this year's ceremony will be Lieutenant Governor Daniel J. McKee, Fr. David Thurber, St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Church and Chaplain and Captain of the Rhode Island National Guard’s 143 Air Lift Wing in Quonset, Brigadier General (Ret.) Richard Valente, Captain Dennis D. R. Boyer, Captain and Commanding Officer, Newport Naval Station, Colonel Anthony Hamel, Retired Commander of the 143d Mission Support Group, and Immediate Past President of the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association, Representative Samuel Azzinaro, Vice Chair, House Veterans Affairs and the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Navy Lieutenant Commander Kasim Yarn, Director of the State of Rhode Island’s Office Veterans Affairs, Sharon Serio-Valente, President, Gold Star Families and the Gold Star Family Members, Andrew Koczera, President of the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association and Officers, Raymond Butterfield III, President-Elect of the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association, Board and Members of the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association, Veterans Groups in the State of Rhode Island.

For more information this event, please contact: Laurie Robinson, Executive Director, Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association, 401-523-5107 or rifda1@aol.com

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992. The organization’s mission, Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies on the second Saturday of December at Arlington, as well as hundreds of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information, to donate or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.