The Wreaths Across America event that was scheduled for Dec. 19 at Sky View Memorial Park in Tamaqua has been canceled as a result of the shutdown order issued by Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday.

“After so many months of work, it breaks my heart,” said Bob Miller, of Sky View’s board of directors. “So many volunteers were enthusiastic to participate in the laying of wreaths, which will now be done by the cemetery staff, but there’s really no choice. The important thing is that every veteran laid to rest here will still get a wreath and everyone else will remain safe.”

Miller said the staff will distribute wreaths as they arrive, but expects the majority of the work to be completed long before the original event date of Dec. 19.

Paul Corinchock, one of the event’s four coordinators, echoed Miller’s sentiments.

“My thoughts go to all of our volunteers and sponsors who wanted to be a part of something uplifting and affirming,” said Corinchock. “But I also know things are bad out there right now.”

The group had been preparing to announce changes to the original plans of a noontime commemorative service followed by mass wreath-laying. That announcement was scheduled to be released Friday, but Liz Corinchock explained that those plans still would have exceeded the new limit on outdoor gatherings. “The nice thing was that everyone who wanted to lay wreaths would get to participate, but it still would have put about 125 people on the cemetery every hour on a rolling basis over eight hours. We were concerned even with those numbers.”

Coordinator Christine Zizelmann, who is also an emergency department nurse, did not want the event to become a super-spreader.

“The number of people who said they planned on participating kept growing,” said Zizelmann. “It would not have surprised me if there were 400 people there at one time. That’s far too many at one place, even if it is outside.”

Tom Rossochacy, who was planning on attending the event, acknowledges the difficulty despite his disappointment. “My entire family was going to be there, including my grandchildren. I don’t necessarily agree with the mandate, but it’s all about the veterans and the wreaths will still be laid.”

Holiday visitors to the cemetery can expect all the wreaths to be in place by Dec. 21.

“Gov. Wolf’s announcement began a very long night,” said Eric Zizelmann. “But I guess these veterans are still teaching us. If they’ve shown us anything, it’s that we don’t give up after getting knocked down, we push through the adversity of the pandemic, and we come back next year all the stronger as a united country.