State veterans cemetery to take part in national wreath-laying ceremony

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield will take part in nationwide ceremony to remember veterans.

Wreaths Across America started in 1992 at Arlington National Cemetery and has now grown to include 230 state and national cemeteries and monuments.

All those participating will lay wreaths at 11 a.m. Thursday.

At Bloomfield, organizers will lay one wreath each for Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and POW/MIA soldiers.

Randy Dunn of Oak Ridge will be master of ceremonies for the event. He is the Southeast Missouri ride captain for the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motorcycle riders who attended veterans funerals.

Other area politicians and dignitaries have received invitations and may speak.

Opened in 2003, the veterans cemetery at Bloomfield is now the burial spot for 464 area veterans and their spouses. There are 10,156 plots for full casket burial. This is the first year Bloomfield has participated in the wreath ceremony.

Missouri veterans cemeteries at Springfield, Higginsville and Jacksonville will also participate in the event.