On Saturday, July 27, as part of its 11th Annual Stem to Stone event, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) recognized the Veterans Heritage Site Foundation (VHSF) as the eighth recipient of the organization’s annual REMEMBER Award. This award is given semi-annually to an individual or group who Remembers the fallen and their sacrifice in a way that goes above and beyond.

Veterans Heritage Site Foundation is actively involved in the WAA mission. It participates annually in identifying, marking and cleaning military and veteran gravesites. In 2020, VHSG created the Great Smoky Mountain Veterans Gravesite Project to help identify and honor veterans buried throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which spans five counties between Tennessee and North Carolina – they are committed to identifying and honoring these heroes. So far, 247 veteran gravesites have been identified within the park, with the majority located in the 64 historic cemeteries, and they continue to review more cases regularly.

“I am so thrilled to be able to recognize Veterans Heritage Site Foundation and its president, Marilyn Childress, who is also a WAA volunteer Location Coordinator and Sponsorship Group Leader, for this important award,” said Julie Bright, WAA Director of Locations and Groups, and Committee Chair for the Remember Award. “As a part of this project, the group must hike to many sites, including one which is an 18.5-mile round trip and requires a 30-minute boat ride to the trailhead! We’ve been following their efforts since 2020, and their passion to make sure these veterans are remembered all year long is just outstanding.”

VHSF has also started a program to identify, mark, and maintain Revolutionary War gravesites within the state of Tennessee, with the support of local partnering organizations, including Daughters of the American Revolution and Girl Scout Troops throughout the state who assist with this project. They have also recruited a forensic scientist to their board who assists with locating unmarked veteran gravesites.

“Veterans Heritage Site Foundation is so excited about being honored with the Remember Award. This honor goes to our dedicated volunteers who hike in wind, rain, or snow to place wreaths and honor and remember these once-forgotten veterans in the park. They also spend hours cleaning their headstones,” said Marilyn Childress, President of the Veterans Heritage Site Foundation. “We thank Wreaths Across America for this most prestigious award.”

National Wreaths Across America Day will be held this year on Saturday, December 14, 2024. It is a free event, open to all people. Click here to find a local participating cemetery near you to support. For more information or a participating cemetery near you, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.