Viking Love NYC remembers fallen veterans close to home

In an effort to remember American veterans, Viking Love NYC, a Bay Ridge-centered non-profit organization, will hold “Wreaths Across America Day” on Saturday, December 13 at 11 a.m.

At that time, attendees will lay wreaths for soldiers buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery, 625 Jamaica Avenue, a cemetery originally established to honor Civil War veterans. In so doing, the organization is tying in with Wreaths Across America, a national organization that hosts events with a simple mission: to remember and honor America’s military veterans.

“We looked into it last year and found that Cypress Hills National Cemetery has over 18,000 soldiers buried there, with 24 Medal of Honor recipients. The organization wasn’t getting a lot of sponsorship right here in Brooklyn so, since we’re a local group, once we found Cypress Hills we decided to jump on board,” said Viking Love Vice President Jason McDermott.

While this is the 22nd year that Wreaths Across America has honored fallen veterans, Viking Love, with over 15 designated locations in Bay Ridge accepting donations, is in its second year, and growing. With approximately $1,800 raised last year, McDermott estimated that the group has already raised over five times that amount for this year’s event.

That means that many graves at Cypress Hills will be adorned on the 13th. “For every three wreaths that we’ve purchased through our fund-raising group, they (Wreaths Across America) donate one,” McDermott explained.

A $15 donation will honor a veteran with a wreath placed on his or her grave. According to Viking Love, “It’s a small gift that has a great impact to remember our heroes, honor their sacrifice and teach future generations the price of our freedom.”

Viking Love’s efforts to promote this patriotic cause was capped on November 30, with an afternoon of live music at The Leif Bar (6725 Fifth Avenue, 2-7 p.m.) to raise funds and awareness for the event.

For more information on this year’s Wreaths Across America Day and Viking Love NYC, visit vikinglovenyc.org, or wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.