Neither a frozen, snow-covered terrain nor below-average winter temperatures marred the success of the 18th annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at Sky View Memorial Park, Hometown, on Saturday.

About 200 people attended the event, ranging from children as young as 5 years old to senior citizens in a show of remembrance to veterans buried there.

Following a program defining Wreaths Across America, the volunteers spread throughout the cemetery, find veterans’ graves and pushing away the hardened snow on the flat grave markers to decorate them with a wreath.

Eric Zizelmann, who served as the emcee and is a member of the Wreaths Across America committee, said, “We gather to demonstrate our profound gratitude and respect as we remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the next generation the true value of freedom.”

Wreaths Across America is a national event at 5,200 memorial sites. Zizelmann said the program begins simultaneously at each of the participating cemeteries.

Zizelmann said Sky View Memorial Park is the final resting place for 3,855 veterans, including 94 war dead who are memorialized with cenotaphs.

As wreaths were placed at the grave sites, the individual was asked to say that veteran’s name aloud and offer a silent thank you for their service.

“Our purpose today is not to ‘decorate graves’ or dwell on loss,” he said. “We are here to celebrate their lives and express deep thanks for their dedication to preserving our freedoms. Each wreath laid is a heartfelt gift of appreciation from a grateful America, a simple yet powerful gesture of remembrance for the incredible service they provided us.”

Wreaths were also placed on a mount containing the crests of each military branch. The wreaths were placed by:

• Jack Kulp and Chris Whippel, for the U.S. Army.

• Charles Greer, U.S. Marine Corps.

• Mark Urick, U.S. Navy.

• Kelly Sevetz, U.S. Air Force.

• Dale Kline, U.S. Coast Guard.

• Greg Danchek, U.S. Merchant Marines.

• Sharon Gladski, U.S. Space Force.

• Nate Johns, in honor of the 93,129 American soldiers whose last known status was either Prisoner of War or Missing in Action.

Ruth Gardiner, lay minister at the White Church in Barnesville, offered the invocation and benediction. “We place these wreaths as a symbol of our enduring remembrance and gratitude,” she said.

The Tamaqua Jazz Choral sang “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America.”

A color guard of the Tamaqua American Legion Post gave a rifle salute.

At the entrance to the cemetery, the aerial trucks from the Tamaqua and Coaldale Fire Departments formed an arch from which hung a large American flag.