Wreaths Across Guilford (WAG) will be celebrating its fifth anniversary this year and is seeking the help of residents for this season’s event honoring veterans. The organization is now partnering with Wreath Across America (WAA) to ensure that every veteran, no matter how long ago they were interred, is remembered and respected during the holidays.

Co-founder, Steve Spurrell said the event is close to his heart and a day that brings the Guilford community together. According to Spurrell, residents can help by donating to WAG and ensuring that all 1,100 identified Guilford veterans get a wreath placed on their grave site.

“We are ultimately setting a wreath on every veteran’s grave here in Guilford. We’ve done a fair amount of research to try and find the really old ones that aren’t necessarily marked with a military headstone, and we are doing our best to put one on every grave in memory of our veterans,” said Spurrell.

According to Spurrell, residents can help in several ways with this year’s event.

“[The] immediate need is funds, and there are three options in how folks can help,” said Spurrell “They can go to songstrong.org and give online, they can write a check to the Ethan Miller Song Strong Foundation and drop that in the mail to 222 Sage Hollow Road in Guilford, or stop in at Page/Taft Compass at 89 Whitfield Street with a check and hand it to me.”

Kristin Miller Song is the mother of Ethan Song who died in an accidental shooting in 2018, and she said it was a question asked by Ethan shortly before his death that led to WAG's founding.

“The December before Ethan was killed, we were on the highway, and he saw a WAA truck pass us and asked me what that was. I told him it’s a program that lays wreaths on veterans’ graves at Christmas time. He asked if we could do that in Guilford. It was too late for 2017, but I promised him we would do it in 2018. Ethan was killed six weeks later,” said Miller Song. “In December 2018, I was in my car, and I remembered my promise to him. I panicked. I called Steve Spurell and told him my predicament. Between social media and Steve, we were able to acquire wreaths for every veteran. It was not easy to find wreaths because of the late date. People scoured the towns and Steve even met a friend in another state to get some wreaths. It was because of a 14-year-old child who wanted to honor our veterans that this event was started. We are so glad we can continue to honor Ethan and veterans with the help of so many, especially Steve Spurrell.”

Spurrell said he was deeply moved by the Song family's tragedy and felt compelled to try and bring something positive to such a profoundly emotional situation and to honor veterans.

“Frankly, Kristin Song, the very first year said she wanted to do this and said it to me, and I decided that that was my calling, and I would be the one to co-sponsor this with the Song Strong Foundation and get it going,” Spurrell said. “Last year we teamed up with Wreaths Across America for the first time, and they’ve made it quite easy because they have been doing this so long. All donations go to them. They deliver a tractor-trailer full of lovely wreaths that are fully decorated and ready to go.”

Spurrell also praised many Guilford organizations that assist every year.

“I’d like to thank the Song Strong Foundation, the VFW organization, the American Legion organization, and the Guilford Fire department who come out with a big flag to drape for the ceremony,” Spurrell said. “This year, we really want to get younger folks involved in a way they feel comfortable. We are fearful that coming generations might lose touch with veterans in general, so we are trying to get them involved so that they can take over at some point.”

According to Spurrell, volunteers are also needed to help unload the wreaths when delivered the day before the event. Volunteers are also needed to help place the wreaths and then pick them up in the spring.

The Wreaths Across Guilford dedication event is on Saturday, Dec. 17 at noon at the Alderbrook Cemetery at 375 Boston Street. WAG encourages all residents to attend and is extending a special welcome to younger residents and their families this year.

To donate you can fund the project online via the Ethan Miller Song Strong Foundation, send a check to the Song Strong Foundation at 222 Sage Hollow Road, Guilford, CT 06437, or drop off a check to Steve Spurrell at Page/Taft Compass at 89 Whitfield Street in Guilford. Those wishing to volunteer with the placing and removing of wreaths can contact Steve directly at 203-627-4404.

For more information about SongStrong, visit, songstrong.org.

For more information about Wreaths Across America and their organization and projects, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org