Pequea Valley townlively.com
DECEMBER 6, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 50
Wreaths Across America will honor local veterans Diem. “We started with 1,250 (wreaths). This year, we will be placing 2,800 wreaths in 27 cemeteries.” Diem will lead the ceremony, which will be held indoors and is free and open to the community. “It’s about a half-hour ceremony. I will talk about Wreaths Across America and the meaning of the day,” she said, noting that there will be special wreaths presented to local veterans and community members representing the branches of the military. “We will present eight wreaths on behalf of the Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard and the POW/MIAs.” Following the ceremony, the special wreaths will be transported to the Gap VFW by auxiliary member Dick Martin. The wreaths will be displayed on the front lawn of the building. Wreath placement will take place at local cemeteries such as Glen Run
BY FRANCINE FULTON
reaths are placed at the graves of veterans every holiday season as part of the Wreaths Across America program, which seeks to remember and honor those who served in the military and teach others, especially children, about the value of freedom. Locally, a Wreaths Across America program will take place on Saturday, Dec. 16. The event will begin with a ceremony at noon at Pequea Valley (PV) Intermediate School, 166 S. New Holland Road, Kinzers. Wreaths will then be placed at ceremonies in the Octorara and PV school districts. The effort is being led by Gap resident Paula Diem, who brought the tradition to the area after taking part in the Wreaths Across America ceremony several times at Arlington National Cemetery. “This will be our fifth time placing wreaths,” said
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See Wreaths Across America pg 4
This year, volunteers will place 2,800 wreaths in 27 local cemeteries.
Honored for their service
Tim Farrell, one of the leaders of the Lancaster Prayer Breakfast, which was held for the second year on Nov. 3, said that when the committee organized under the Leaders of Faith Foundation, the goal was to make the event unique, with prayer as the key component. The group decided to focus on six areas - business, government, art/media, education, family, and church - and ask a community leader to lead prayer on each of those segments. Each speaker asked
table groups to pray on a subject and then concluded by leading the gathering of more than 400 in prayer. Master of ceremonies Tracey C. Jones, president of Tremendous Leadership and T3 Solutions, opened the event, saying, “The Lancaster Prayer Breakfast endeavors to further the rich heritage and spiritual guidance handed down by the Founding Fathers … and magnify Jesus Christ through unified prayers.” Worship music was provided by Dave Ross, pastor of worship ministries at Calvary Church, who See Lancaster Prayer Breakfast pg 11
On Nov. 10, Pequea Valley Intermediate School (PVIS) held its annual Veterans Day event. Fifteen veterans, along with family members, were escorted to the library
Area veterans were honored at a special assembly held at Pequea Valley Intermediate School.
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by seventh- and eighth-grade students when they arrived at the school at noon. The veterans enjoyed a buffet of sandwiches, pasta salad, chips, and cookies, sitting at high-top tables and on couches. PVIS assistant principal Christy
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Collins welcomed the gathering, saying, “I hope you feel honored for the sacrifice you have made for our country. We hope you feel that from our staff and our kids.” Following the luncheon, an assembly was held in the school gymnasium. The event opened with a patriotic medley played by members of the PVIS and Pequea Valley High School bands. The medley was followed by the national anthem sung a capella by Brave Sounds, under the direction of music teacher Alicia Trescavage. Trescavage then sang “God Bless America.” William Darras, one of the organizers of the event, spoke briefly, saying, See PVIS pg 5 LVP Carpet Area Rugs Remnants Vinyl Paint & Supplies
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Cemetery in Atglen and cemeteries at Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church in Parkesburg, Bellevue Presbyterian Church in Gap, Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Enola and St. John’s United Methodist Church in Gordonville. “The wreaths come into the Gap Fire Company on the Thursday before the event,” Diem explained. “A Tyson Food truck brings our wreaths to Gap, and then students from PV High School and community members help unload the truck and organize the boxes inside the fire company. On Saturday morning at 8 a.m., the local fire companies come to the Gap Fire Hall, and they take the boxes of wreaths and deliver them to our cemeteries.” The wreaths are purchased through fundraising efforts and with donations from local businesses and individuals. Those who would like to help place wreaths on Dec. 16 should