By Matt de Simone
Sirens and Salutes held a ceremony on December 4 at Fairview Cemetery in Buchanan to honor the veterans of Botetourt County.
Members of the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department laid the wreaths at the gravesites of nearly 500 local veterans. Members of the Buchanan community and family members of the veterans spent the morning placing the Christmas wreaths.
Bill and Cindy Price thanked everyone who came to help decorate the graves. The project was a year-long endeavor for Sirens and Salutes. Last spring, when they first walked the cemetery, the Prices discovered about 475 gravestones representing veterans for wars of every era. They worked with Michael’s in Roanoke to purchase the wreaths, beginning in the fall. The organization purchased around 500 wreaths. Cindy Price then spent a bit of time tying ribbons.
Three trucks loaded down with wreaths spread out around the cemetery while volunteers walked down to begin distributing them around the cemetery.
The wreaths will remain at the cemetery through the holiday season. On Jan. 2 at noon, Sirens and Salutes, along with welcome volunteers, will pick up the Christmas decorations. Anyone interested in helping out with the collecting efforts should visit facebook.com/sirensandsalutes.
