PGRNY Completed Missions

HOTH Mission

Wreaths Across America
Long Island National Cemetery

All Military Branches

Farmingdale, NY - 12/14/2024

Mission applies to the following Region(s):

Region 7, Region 8, Region 9

About the Mission:

Remember, Honor, Teach at Long Island National Cemetery, one of the largest cemeteries in the nation, by number of wreaths to be placed. Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, and more than 4,600 additional locations, including Long Island National Cemetery, in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. Use the following links to learn more about this program:

Wreaths Across America Mission

Wreaths Across America Long Island National Cemetery page


We are fortunate to receive and place up to 40,000 wreaths at Long Island National Cemetery this year.

Our schedule for the day is as follows:
07:00 AM Sharp KSU LEO escorted escort of trucks from Hilton Long Island to Long Island National Cemetery
08:00 AM Trucks unloaded onto roadways inside LINC
10:00 AM Unloaded trucks to be moved out of the cemetery
12:00 Noon Ceremony
12:30 PM until complete - Laying of Wreaths

Note:  Wreath Pickup will be on 18 January 2025. The mission will be posted in advance of that date.

Primary Staging Date and Staging Time:

12/14/2024 at 06:00am

Staging Location:

Hilton Long Island
598 Broadhollow Rd
Melville, NY 11747

Acting Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

Rob Wrenn
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
631-626-5315

Special Covid-19 Mission Guidelines:

Updated 15, May 2024

The CDC has changed its COVID-19 protocol recommendations for 2024, updating them to reflect the changing severity and transmission of the virus. Please click here for the latest information and continue to practice common sense distancing protocols while in enclosed locations.

Special Information:

LE led escort of Wreath Trucks will KSU from Hilton Long Island at 7:00AM Sharp to Long Island National Cemetery.

**Please read this important information:
We expect upwards of 30 - 40,000 wreaths and thousands of volunteers this year. Although we have improved the process of this event each year, we have needed to address certain issues. One is traffic control inside and outside the cemetery. The Punishers LEMC has committed to sending many of their members from several of their Chapters, along with other LEMCs, to direct the flow of traffic and parking. Suffolk County Police Department has committed to supplying personnel and equipment to aid in traffic control outside all four gates of Long Island National Cemetery.

Because the tractor trailers are not able to get to all of this year's Designated Sections on the southern end of the property, we will have to shuttle the wreaths to those sections on pickup trucks and flatbed trailers. If you have or know someone who has such equipment, we ask that you show by 8:00AM at the cemetery to help. We also need responsible adults to manage hundreds of student volunteers at the pickup and dropoff points of these shuttles. We will also need people to 'guard' the wreaths until the conclusion of the ceremony, at which point the public will be invited to place the wreaths.

Thanks to Suffolk County 1st Precinct, NY State Police, Punishers LEMC, Red Knights MC, Long Island HOG, American Legion Riders, Rolling Thunder NY6, Marine Corps League - Sunrise Detachment, and probably several others who I am neglecting to mention, for their participation in this massive undertaking.

Please read the 'Master Plan,' link for insight into the project:  Click here for Master Plan

Please contact Wayne Cohen with any questions or comments about this project and how you can help: 516.729.9869

Is there a Second Stage to this Mission?

yes

Second Staging Date and Staging Time:

12/14/2024 at 11:00am

Second Location:

Long Island National Cemetery
2040 Wellwood Ave
Farmingdale, NY 11735

Second Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

Terry and Jim Martinelli
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
631-617-3298

Second Stage - Special Information:

Be sure to arrive early - we expect much traffic getting into the cemetery, as in years past.   Ceremony will take place between Shelters A and B.  We will stand a flag line for opening and closing ceremony.  See RCs Terry and Jim Martinelli for instructions.

Is there a Third Stage to this Mission?

no

Submitted by:

Wayne Cohen - SRC Region 8 NY

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.