Amityville, NY - December 19, 2016 - Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory served as the keynote speaker for the National Wreaths Across America Day celebration at Calverton National Cemetery and presented a proclamation to the cemetery’s support committee on Saturday, December 17.

“On behalf of the residents of Suffolk County, it was my privilege to take part in honoring the memories of the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to serve our country,” said Presiding Officer Gregory.

Calverton National Cemetery is one of over 1,200 locations throughout the country that participate in National Wreaths Across America Day each December. The mission statement of Wreaths Across America is to “Remember our fallen U.S. Veterans, honor those who serve and teach children the value of freedom.”

Photo courtesy of the Office of Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory.

Volunteers hold ceremonies and place wreaths on individual veterans' graves to remember and thank them for their service. These ceremonies also take place at sea and at each of the national cemeteries on foreign soil.