Members of the Central High School chapter of the Ruri-Teen Club went to Arlington National Cemetery in December to aid people from across the country in laying wreaths on the graves of veterans.

Eighteen area participants, including students and a chaperone, drove to Arlington on Dec. 16 to volunteer with Wreaths Across America, a national organization that seeks to honor fallen veterans by laying wreaths on each grave at the cemetery and the cemeteries of more than 1,200 localities throughout the U.S.

“We encourage every volunteer who places a wreath on a veteran’s grave to say that veteran’s name aloud and take a moment to thank them for their service to our country,” representatives from Wreaths Across America cited on the organization’s website. “It’s a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive.”

Amber Davis, Ruri-Teen Club sponsor, said the Central students worked to honor veterans at the cemetery.

“I went over this background information and the purpose of this ceremony with the students beforehand,” Davis said. “They understood why they were there, and each student spoke aloud the names of the veterans as they laid wreaths on their graves.”

Davis said the students were intentional about the project.

“The students had different methods for choosing graves,” Davis said. “Some chose veterans who were from Virginia while other students sought out veterans who shared the same birthday as them. The day’s activities closed with a special wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, which our students attended.”