The Leslie County 4-H Teen Council members have learned many important skills through their involvement with 4-H. Community Service is one of our main focuses during council meetings. Our members discuss what activities and projects they are interested in. This year they decided to participate in Wreaths Across America. 

The council members partnered with a local volunteer and retired school teacher Mollie Sizemore. December 17th is National Wreaths Across Day. Teens and their families met with others in the community early that morning in front of the courthouse in Hyden, KY.  Our goal was to help honor our veterans by laying remembrance wreaths on their graves. Council members along with other volunteers assisted with laying over 200 wreaths at two different cemeteries in Leslie County.  Names were said aloud, and special stories were told to ensure that the legacy of duty, service & sacrifice of the veteran is not forgotten. Not only was this a great experience to serve, but also very educational. 

Symbolically, wreaths represent everlasting life. These simple evergreens are so much more than a decoration placed on a grave. Wreaths Across America’s mission is to REMEMBER the Fallen. . . HONOR those who Serve. . . TEACH our children the value of Freedom. It was a very touching and emotional day for all who participated. Hearing the many stories told brought us closer to our fallen veterans. We also learned the reason coins are laid on tombstones. A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier's family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect. A penny means you visited. A nickel means you and the deceased veteran trained at boot camp together. A dime means you and the deceased veteran served together in some capacity.

The council members were proud to honor our veterans.  Leslie County 4-H hopes to continue this project each year. They have learned the importance of caring and want to continue helping others any way they possibly can. Community Service Projects such as Wreaths Across America will help these 4-H members become competent, caring, responsible adults that give back to their community. Our ultimate goal would be to ensure every veteran in Leslie County receives a wreath.