Joe Lofton salutes during the Wreaths Across America ceremony at North Cemetery Saturday.

Wreaths Across America honors deceased U.S. veterans at more than 2,100 locations across the U.S., at sea and abroad.

On Saturday, the service of veterans buried in two Butler County cemeteries were celebrated with the laying of pine wreaths atop their graves.

At North Cemetery off North Main Street Hill in Butler, the graves of 930 military men and women were adorned with pine wreaths by the Butler Chapter of Wreaths Across America.

Chuck Veazey, location coordinator for the Butler chapter, said the wreaths were laid on the grave of each veteran in the cemetery by members of the local Daughters of the American Revolution, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Butler High School Junior ROTC and community members.

He estimated that 150 to 200 people attended.

Veazey said some graves decorated Saturday in North Cemetery date back to the Revolutionary War in the 1700s.Ceremonial wreaths celebrating each branch of the U.S. military also were placed in front of the chapel at the cemetery, where they will remain until Jan. 30.Asked why he feels it is necessary to place the wreaths each year, he recited the mission of Wreaths Across America.“Remember our fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve and teach your children the value of freedom,” Veazey said. “I can't say anything better than that.”A ceremony before the wreath-laying included the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, a gun salute and lastly, the playing of “Taps.”Veazey said Saturday's event marked the second year that Wreaths Across America was held at North Cemetery.

Wreaths Across America was also held at the Plains Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Cranberry Township.Tom Lunney, Wreaths Across America coordinator for the church, said 46 veterans' graves received wreaths Saturday.Lunney, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, spoke at the ceremony, and the Rev. Derek Marotta, pastor at Plains Presbyterian Church, blessed the event.In addition to the 46 wreaths lain on the graves, ceremonial wreaths representing the branches of the military were added in the cemetery.The strains of “Taps,” played by Laura Hanlon of Bugles Across America, rung across the snow-covered cemetery to wrap up the event.“It is to ensure the veterans are not forgotten and to remember the heroes,” Lunney said.

At North Cemetery in Butler, Wreaths Across America honored deceased U.S. veterans with a ceremony Saturday. A ceremony was also held at the Plains Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Cranberry Township.