LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Wreaths destined to decorate the graves of veterans in cemeteries spanning Lake County are due to arrive this week.

A Wreaths Across America semi truck loaded with the holiday greenery will be pulling into Lakeport on Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Organizers said the truck is scheduled to arrive at 5 p.m. at 301 N. Main St. in downtown Lakeport.

Community members are invited to bring flags and assemble on the sidewalks along Main Street at 4:45 p.m. to welcome the truck, which will be escorted through town.

The ceremonies to place the wreaths at Hartley, Kelseyville, Lower Lake, Middletown, St. Mary’s and Upper Lake cemeteries will take place beginning at 8:50 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18.

This year’s theme is, “Live Up To Their Legacy.”

Everyone is invited to attend the Saturday ceremony, as Lake County residents gather together to honor veterans during the holiday season as part of the annual Wreaths Across America Day.

Youth and veterans organizations have volunteered to conduct the Wreaths Across America ceremony this year at the cemeteries.

Eight ceremonial wreaths will be placed to remember all soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who served, honor their sacrifices and teach younger generations about the high cost of our freedoms.

Specially designated wreaths for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Space Force and POW/MIA will be placed on memorials during a ceremony that will be coordinated simultaneously at over participating locations all across the country and overseas.

In 2020, more than 1.7 million veteran wreaths were placed on headstones at 2,500 participating cemeteries around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms, with each name said out loud. More than 500 truckloads of wreaths were delivered across the country by hundreds of volunteer professional truck drivers.

Wreaths Across America pursues its mission with nationwide wreath-laying events amid the holiday season, and year-round educational outreach.

Organizers invite the community to take an hour amid the hustle and bustle of this holiday season and attend one of these heartfelt ceremonies on Saturday, when they will remember and honor veterans, and teach children about the value of the sacrifices that have been made by men and women in the armed forces.