FYI 11-23-14

Wreaths to mark veterans' graves

Mound City National Cemetery in Mound City, Illinois, will honor veterans Dec. 13 as part of the annual Wreaths Across America Day with a remembrance ceremony at 11 a.m. The cemetery, on 141 State Highway 37, holds the graves of 9,000 veterans. Specially designated wreaths for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and POW/MIA will be placed on memorials during a ceremony that will be coordinated simultaneously at more than 750 participating locations all across the country. The goal of Mound City National Cemetery Preservation Commission is to place a live balsam wreath at the headstone of every fallen veteran in the cemetery. Wreath sponsorships of $15 each are available until Friday, and a wreath also may be purchased and placed on a veteran's grave that is not in Mound City National Cemetery. More information is available by calling Becky, 618-521-5228; Tom at 573-334-3275; Sherry at 618-967-4182; or Morrissa at 618-713-7627.

Military scholarships available

WGU Missouri is offering a new scholarship to help veterans and active-duty military personnel and their spouses go back to school. Parent university Western Governors University is partnering with the National Military Family Association to extend the scholarship for bachelor's and master's degree programs. The WGU Missouri Military Appreciation Scholarship is valued at up to $2,000 per student. It reduces WGU Missouri's tuition of about $6,000 per year, and will be applied at the rate of $500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. WGU will award up to 50 scholarships to new students nationwide. At least five will be awarded to new Missouri students, and five are also reserved solely for NMFA and military spouses. Applications are being accepted now through February at missouri.wgu.edu/militaryappreciation.

Magnolia Manor holiday hours

Magnolia Manor, a postbellum manor in Cairo, Illinois, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 through 6. The house is decorated for the holidays and has a holiday shop, too.