Record Crowd Honors Veterans at Fayetteville Cemetery

A record-breaking crowd of volunteers showed up at Fayetteville National Cemetery on a frigid Saturday morning, proving that honoring veterans doesn't stop when the holidays end.

The community gathered at 9 a.m. to help retire wreaths placed on graves during December's Wreaths Across America ceremony. Despite temperatures that sent most people indoors, so many volunteers arrived that they cleared the entire cemetery in less than an hour.

Jannie Layne, president and founder of Bo's Blessings, leads the effort each year in memory of her son, who is buried at the cemetery. She says the quick turnout shows something powerful about the community's commitment to remembrance.

"If you speak someone's name that is deceased, they're never forgotten," Layne said. She encourages volunteers to photograph headstones and research the veterans laid to rest there, learning the stories behind the names.

One first-time volunteer was a veteran who came with his wife to see the cemetery where they've chosen to be buried someday. Witnessing the community's involvement helped them know they'd made the right choice.

The Ripple Effect

The true impact of this annual tradition extends far beyond a single morning of service. Layne sees each volunteer event as an investment in future generations who will carry forward the work of honoring military service.

"It grows the next generation, so when people like me are gone, someone else will take over this project," she explained. Without teaching younger people the importance of remembrance, she warns, the current generation could be the last to actively honor veterans.

That's why she invites families to make visiting the cemetery a regular practice, not just a once-a-year obligation. Learning about the heroes buried there transforms abstract gratitude into personal connection.

The enthusiasm of Saturday's record turnout suggests the message is resonating, with volunteers of all ages showing up to serve those who served.