PERRY TWP. – Area residents gathered at noon on the cold and overcast Dec. 13 at Calvary Cemetery to honor military service members — 2,300 of whom are buried there.

"I would like to take a moment to recognize all of our veterans here today, along with current military and gold star families," Tom Nelligan, president of the Perry Township Rotary Club , said at the start of a wreath-laying ceremony. "I'd like to thank you for your service to our country."

The Rotary Club and Operation Flags of Freedom coordinate the local Wreaths Across America event, which is in its sixth year at the cemetery. This year, there were 3,105 wreaths sponsored — surpassing the goal by more than 35% or 805 wreaths and helping to fund the ceremony in future years.

"We're expecting to do this for a long time,

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