Wreaths Across America Continues 'Remember, Honor, Teach' Tradition

Annual ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery in Allentown honors fallen veterans and engages the community.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery in Allentown, Pennsylvania has been taking place for over a decade, providing a meaningful way for the community to remember those who have served, honor their sacrifices, and teach the next generation about the value of freedom. The event is organized by the Knights of Columbus and features participation from local families, scouts, and clergy, who come together to lay wreaths on the graves of veterans buried at the cemetery.

Why it matters

The Wreaths Across America ceremony is an important tradition that helps the local community in Allentown connect with and appreciate the service and sacrifice of veterans. By engaging youth and families in the event, it also serves to educate the next generation about the importance of honoring those who have defended our nation's freedom.

The details

The ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery is led by Father (LTC) Christopher Butera, Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Division Chaplain for the 28th Infantry Division of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Attendees include local families like the Shucavhes, whose husband and grandfather served in the Army, as well as scout troops like Troop 150 led by Scoutmaster Daniel Spieker. The event features the laying of wreaths on veterans' graves, prayers, and reflections on the meaning of service and sacrifice.

  • The Wreaths Across America ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery in Allentown takes place annually on December 13.

The players

Father (LTC) Christopher Butera

Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bath, and Division Chaplain for the 28th Infantry Division of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, who opens the Wreaths Across America ceremony with a prayer.

Barbara Shucavhe

Whose husband John Frank Shucavhe, an Army Special Forces soldier Green Beret, is buried at Resurrection Cemetery and who attends the event yearly with her grown sons.

Daniel Spieker

Troop 150 Scoutmaster who continues to bring his son Adam and other scouts to participate in the Wreaths Across America event, seeing it as an opportunity to honor veterans and engage in the Corporal Work of Mercy 'to bury the dead.'

Adam Spieker

An eighth grader at St. Joseph the Worker School, Orefield, who appreciates joining his father Daniel to participate in the Wreaths Across America event as a history buff and to honor his grandfather and other relatives who served in WWII and the Korean War.

John Fitzpatrick

Former Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus who continues to stand at the helm of organizing and fundraising for the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery.

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What they’re saying

“This event is fantastic, and I thank the Knights of Columbus and everybody else who sponsors it, because our veterans filled us with hope for our country, and the Lord fills us with hope for Christmas.”

— Barbara Shucavhe

“It's just icing on the cake that this takes place at our Resurrection Cemetery. I have my grandmother, uncle, and aunt here, and then, you know, with my grandfather, who's a veteran here. Honoring [my grandfather] and the many other veterans who served when they were alive brings a lot of closure to me.”

— Daniel Spieker, Troop 150 Scoutmaster

“I am a big history buff, and I watch a lot of war movies, but I believe I understand what this ceremony means because my grandfather and some of my past relatives served in WWII and the Korean War.”

— Adam Spieker, Eighth grader at St. Joseph the Worker School, Orefield

What’s next

The Wreaths Across America ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery in Allentown will continue to take place annually on December 13, providing the community with an opportunity to remember, honor, and teach about the sacrifices of veterans.

The takeaway

The Wreaths Across America ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery in Allentown is a meaningful tradition that brings the local community together to honor fallen veterans, engage youth in understanding the importance of service and sacrifice, and ensure the next generation continues to 'Remember, Honor, Teach' the values that veterans have fought to defend.