The scouts of Scouting America Troop 1351 have participated in the Wreaths Across America program in Leavenworth, Kan. for many years, but leaders hoped to find something closer to home.
With the help of Platte City Veterans of Foreign Wars members Bill Prost and Bob Munsey, the troop was able to decorate Hampton Cemetery, located near KCI Airport. On Dec. 3, the troop gathered to assemble boughs donated by Fulks Tree Farm and tie red ribbons on the greenery.
On Wednesday, Dec. 10, scouts and leaders bundled up to lay the greens. A poem was read, and scouts located each grave and read the name of the interred aloud, holding a moment of silence before placing the greens.
According to Getchen Willson, it took a little more than an hour to lay more than 30 wreaths. The cold and darkness made the scouts take their time to locate their veterans and the group even uncovered a grave that had been buried in leaves and grass before laying a wreath on that grave.
