Greendale Police giving out wreaths for veterans graves

(GREENDALE, Ind.) – The Greendale Police Department and the City of Greendale are continuing their initiative to honor veterans during the holiday season. 

Greendale residents can pick up a wreath for free and place it at their loved ones grave at the Greendale Cemetery.

You can stop by the police department from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this week to pick up a wreath. 

This initiative is in its third year and is led by Greendale Police Department clerk Deanna McAtee. 

She approached City Council to request funds to purchase the wreaths through the Wreaths Across America program, which Council has agreed to for three years.

McAtee was inspired to do this because of Vietnam veteran PG Gentrup, who gives a significant amount of his time to veterans, as well as Baylor Trucking who has been involved with Wreaths Across America for several years. 

“I always hoped to be involved with an organization that would allow me to do more of this, and working at Greendale has certainly opened those doors,” she said. 

The wreaths are free and McAtee hopes each wreath that is taken will end up at the grave of a veteran at Greendale Cemetery. 

If there are any remaining wreaths, they will be placed at graves by the police department.