File photo Members of Elkins American Legion Post 29 and Civil Air Patrol take part in a previous year’s Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Little Arlington Cemetery. The 2025 ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. Post 29 members and other volunteers will be placing close to 150 wreaths on grave sites at the cemetery.

ELKINS — The H.W. Daniels American Legion will host a trio of events on Saturday, highlighted by Post 29 participating in National Wreaths Across America Day.

More than two million volunteers and supporters across the United States will gather to remember, honor and teach at more than 5,200 participating locations, including at the American Legion Little Arlington Cemetery on Cravens Run Road. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

“We will be doing a ceremony and placing wreaths on graves at Little Arlington,” Elkins American Legion District Chairman Donnie Lambert told The Inter-Mountain this week. “The ceremony was created so that veterans are always remembered. The Post really enjoys taking part in Wreaths Across America, so it’s something I think we will always continue to do.”

Lambert said that Post 29 members and volunteers will be putting out close to 150 wreaths on gravesites after the ceremony. The wreaths are made from real materials and are delivered to Elkins by the Wreaths Across America organization. Wreath-laying ceremonies began more than 30 years ago and are traditionally held on the second or third Saturday in December.

Also on Saturday, Post 29 will be distributing Christmas dinner baskets for Randolph County residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Applicants have already been accepted for the baskets that the Legion distributes each December.

“We had about as many applicants for Christmas baskets as we have had in the past,” Lambert said. “Between the Vietnam Veterans doing the Thanksgiving baskets and us doing the Christmas baskets, it’s a pretty big thing for us. We are happy that we are able to help people out during the holidays.”

Typically each basket consists of a turkey, a five-pound bag of potatoes, three pounds of apples, three pounds of onions, a loaf of bread, two boxes of stuffing, peas, carrots, yams, beans, and cranberry sauce.

The American Legion Post 29 Auxiliary will be hosting its annual Children’s Christmas Party on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will be in Calain Hall and is for children 12 years old and under. Children attending will be treated to snacks and a visit from Santa Claus.

For more information on any of the three events, call 304-636-3930 or visit the organization’s Facebook page.