While many small towns might go into hibernation this time of year, Callaway becomes a hub of holiday activity. This week the Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Christmas Around Town celebration, which included a vendor show and soup supper at the Community Center.

The soup supper is put on each year by the Sons of the American Legion. All of the arms of the American Legion are very active in the Callaway community, including the sister organization American Legion Auxiliary. One of their big events of the year is up next on the local activity calendar.

The Annual laying of wreaths for 'Christmas Wreaths For Veterans' will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #59 of Callaway. The public is invited to attend, and after the wreaths are laid, coffee and cookies will be served at the Legion Hall. Please join us in honoring our local Veterans who have gone before us.

“At the beginning of this project five years ago, Unit #59 received many generous donations which allow us to offer these wreaths free of charge,” explained Auxiliary member Jo Chesley.

The tradition of using evergreens in wreaths is influenced by Egyptian, Chinese, and Hebrew cultures, who believed that evergreens symbolize eternal life. The circular shape of the wreath represents eternity, with no beginning or end.

Wreaths Across America is an American nonprofit organization established in 2007 by wreath producer Morrill Worcester, assisted by veterans and truckers. Its primary activity is distributing Veterans' wreaths for placement on graves in military cemeteries.

The response has been so positive that the Auxiliary has been able to provide wreaths for all the veteran graves at Rose Hill Cemetery, as well as the other rural cemeteries in the Callaway area.

If you would like information on how you can help or to request a wreath for a local veteran’s grave, contact Jo Chesley at 308-870-4611. If you would like to help place the wreaths, you can just show up at the cemetery on Sunday afternoon.