Those who have bravely served their country and lie in repose in one of four cemeteries in and around Harrisville will be thanked for their service on Dec. 14.

Whether the veterans died more than 200 years ago or last week, all will be celebrated with an evergreen wreath on their grave during the annual Wreaths Across America exercise on that day.

Harrisville area veterans will receive the wreaths for the first time on Dec. 14 thanks to Crystal Arblaster and Mike Kearns.

Arblaster said 650 veterans rest in the four cemeteries in the Harrisville area.

Asked why she decided to coordinate an effort to lay wreaths, Arblaster said several members of her family were in the military.

“My late husband was a major in the National Guard, and I do it because of him,” she said. “He was in the National Guard for 22 years. The military was a big part of our lives.”

Arblaster was happy to help plan Harrisville’s first wreath-laying.

“I attended a ceremony last year in Slippery Rock,” she said of Wreaths Across America. “I was very touched.”

Arblaster said each veteran in the Prairie, Harmony, Big Springs and Mount Olivet cemeteries will receive a wreath on their grave as their name is recited and they are saluted. All veterans receive a wreath, regardless of when or where they served or the rank they achieved.

She said the Big Springs Cemetery has veteran graves dated as far back as 1800.

“The best thing is, the vets are getting recognized for their service,” Arblaster said.

Each wreath laid in the national Wreaths Across America program this year costs $17. The wreaths are handmade in the United States with Maine balsam and delivered to a designated spot for each wreath-laying effort a week before the ceremony.

The wreaths are laid on Dec. 14 nationwide because that’s the day the graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., are festooned with perfectly placed wreaths, Arblaster explained.

So each coordinator of a Wreaths Across America event must find a way to raise money for the wreaths.

To her astonishment, Arblaster was able to raise enough money for 600 wreaths in one month.

“I couldn’t believe it. They are just very caring, giving people,” she said of the Harrisville residents, business owners and organization members who donated money for wreaths.

Arblaster said Harrisville American Legion Post 852 and its Sons of the American Legion, ladies auxiliary, and American Legion Riders motorcycle group all donated and helped spread the word about the Wreaths Across America effort in their hometown.

“They are a wonderful Legion,” she said. “I never was a member of the auxiliary, but I am now because I’m so impressed with what they do in the community.”

She said the borough posted Wreaths Across America on its Facebook page, and money jugs were placed at Penn Gold Ice Cream and Family Traditions restaurant to collect for wreaths.

“And we went to all the businesses and gave them a letter and a poster,” Arblaster said.

Arblaster said a Boy Scout and Girl Scout troop from Harrisville will help lay wreaths on Dec. 14, as will several members of the Harrisville American Legion and individual residents.

Everyone involved will meet at the Legion for a short service at noon, where a color guard will present the American flag, and a few short speeches will rev up volunteers as they prepare to pursue their patriotic task.

Arblaster said a special memorial for Gary Hughes, the longtime Harrisville mayor who died unexpectedly on June 1, will be part of the ceremony.

“Gary really wanted this to happen,” she said of the late mayor’s reaction when she approached him about doing Wreaths Across America. “He was the one I went to first when I thought of it. He was just thrilled we would do that in Harrisville to honor the veterans.”

Arblaster said the time for the ceremony was not arbitrarily chosen.

“The ceremony is at noon because that is when the ceremony will take place at Arlington and the wreaths will begin to be laid,” she said.

After the ceremony, Kearns will divide the volunteers into four groups, and they will proceed to their assigned cemetery to lay wreaths on the veterans’ graves.

Dan Anschutz, mayor of Harrisville, said he, his wife and two teenage children will serve as volunteers on Dec. 14. He hopes his children learn an important lesson during the chilly exercise.

“I believe we need to introduce our younger generations to the importance of honoring our veterans who are no longer with us,” Anschutz said.

He was not surprised that Arblaster was able to raise money for almost all of the wreaths so quickly.

“That speaks volumes,” Anschutz said. “We are a small town and have that hometown feel, and everyone just comes together when something like this is going on.”

He also tipped his hat to Arblaster and Kearns for their efforts in planning the event.

“It’s not a small undertaking,” Anschutz said. “They decided they were going to do this and they’ve really taken the bull by the horns.”

He also appreciates the volunteers who will help lay the wreaths.

“It’s impressive to see people come together,” Anschutz said. “There are so many organizations that are willing to come out and help in December.”

Wreaths Across America is held is several cemeteries across Butler County each year.