Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program postponed until 2021

By David Tanguay

Special to The Windham Eagle

American Legion Field-Allen Post 148’s popular Everlasting Gratitude Wreath program, which has local veterans placing wreaths on the graves of all the town’s departed veterans in the cemeteries of Windham, is being placed on hiatus for 2020. 

The extraordinary change to the program is because of COVID-19 concerns and a desire not to financially overextend the community with an additional fund drive to support the event, Each year about 900 wreaths have been placed on veterans graves at a cost of about $6,000 donated by local business, veteran’s families and the community. 

A more modest program is proposed for this year that will include the placement of one large wreath at each of the major cemeteries in Windham with appropriate honors. Details as to placement will be worked out with the Windham Public Works Department.

The Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program was launched in late 2013 and was the idea of the owners of Studio Flora of North Windham who funded the program for its first few years with some support from the community.

For the past three years, the American Legion Field-Allen Post has coordinated the funding donations for the program.  Past support by the community for this program is greatly appreciated, and it is hoped that the American Legion post will be able to support the wreath event again in 2021. <