KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Joan Jones will host the eighth annual Wreaths Across America celebration at the Keystone Heights Cemetery this Saturday where she expects over 200 in attendance.

Jones, 92, has held this celebration at the cemetery each year since 2012. As is standard for the event, more than 600 wreaths will be placed on the graves of veterans throughout the graveyard. Jones hopes to see more in people attend since it’s an event about community celebration and honoring those that have served the city and the country.

“This event ... it’s the love of my life,” Jones said. “It’s a really big event and the entire community gets involved. Military men and women, boy and girl scouts, they all chip in to help make it happen and that’s why I continue to do it every year. I’m going to do it until the day that I die.”

The event will be on Saturday at noon, which is the same time the Wreaths Across America event takes place throughout the country. Those who wish to pitch in with a set of helping hands, though, can do so by arriving to the cemetery at 9:30 a.m. That’s when volunteers will begin to unpack more than 600 wreaths to be used just a few hours later.

Coffee and donuts courtesy of AMVETS Auxillary will be available at that time as well for those that volunteer. The event will kick-off at noon and guests will first be treated to a nationwide program from the Wreaths Across America national organization. The program will be in Jones’ hands from that point on and it will include two people from each military branch placing a special wreath on their respective flagpole.

Children from Keystone Heights Elementary will be in attendance to sing the National Anthem and the JROTC from Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High will help with the ceremony as well.

Clay County Commissioner Gayward Hendry, who himself is a marine veteran, will be speaking during the celebration as will POW Dale Raebel, who is a retired U.S. Navy Captain that spent three years in a prison camp.

“It’s going to be a really great event,” Jones said. “It’s something everyone should see.”

Jones said that overall, this year was a tough year for Wreaths Across America. Each wreath Jones received was donated by people she called from all over Clay County and beyond. She hit her own quota, but noted that overall, her total number of wreaths was lower than in previous years.

“I’ve talked to the national headquarters and even they said it wasn’t the best year this year,” Jones said. “People just weren’t donating like they usually do, and we found the same thing out here. We made it though, so I’m not worried.”

The Keystone Heights AMVET post, AMVET Post 86, will be serving finger food following the ceremony and all are welcome, Jones said. Jones asks that anyone who plans to attend bring their own chairs.

“I’m very excited,” Jones said. “This means a lot to me and a lot of people out there.”