TOGUS — The Outdoor Adventure Club at USM’s Lewiston Auburn Senior College, led by co-chairs Patricia Vampatella and Cindy Boyd, participated in National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 12. They joined hundreds of volunteers laying wreaths on veterans’ graves at the Togus National Cemetery.

Michael Edgecomb of Spruce Head, coordinator of volunteers and the wreath distribution, greeted everyone from a small knoll at the cemetery, thanking the volunteers for their dedication and enthusiasm and directed them to the sections where the wreaths would be distributed.

Two trucks rolled in with 2,000 wreaths. Wreaths Across America hopes one day all graves will be honored with a wreath. Within half an hour of receiving the wreaths, volunteers had decorated 2,000 veterans’ graves in the designated sections at Togus.

The noontime ceremony held simultaneously across the country and synchronized with the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery honoring the fallen veterans was due to start in a half-hour. This gave the club time to talk with Jim Doherty of Brunswick, who is an historian and a longtime employee in charge of the cemetery.

The club attended the noontime ceremony held at the flagpole. The Rev. James Luoma, chief chaplain of the Pentecostal Ministry, led the crowd in prayer. Representatives from all branches of the U.S. Services laid commemorative wreaths at the base of the flagpole.

A three-gun salute and a bugle playing taps concluded the ceremony. The Retiring of the Colors followed.

Senior College members were honored to participate in Wreaths Across America and found the experience moving and gratifying to be part of the nationwide event. It was their second year participating and it is now an annual event on their calendar.