Kansas communities to participate in Wreaths Across America

EMPORIA (KSNT) - Emporia, Kansas is the founding city of Veteran's Day, and this holiday season, hundreds of people will gather to lay memorial wreaths to honor fallen vets from this community.

The iconic tradition began at Arlington National Cemetery. Last year, Emporia veteran Scott Burenheide decided to add his city to the tradition. This Veteran's Day week, the community laid thousands of flags at headstones of veterans buried in Emporia. Pretty soon, people will add the popular Christmas decoration as part of the national Wreaths Across America movement.

The ceremony recognizes veterans from each branch of the military, stretching all the way back to the Civil War.

"This is deep in my heart. I'm a 20 year veteran, US Army," Burenheide said. "I've seen this at Arlington National Cemetery and it touched my heart. And when I found out I could bring it here to the birthplace of Veteran's Day, what better symbolizes we support our veterans?"

Emporia is not the only Kansas community involved with this effort. Topeka, Fort Riley, Lawrence, and others.

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