NATCHEZ — A wreath ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 11 will honor those who give Americans the freedom to celebrate the holidays in a church, temple or whichever way they want.

At 11 a.m., at the Natchez National Cemetery, volunteers will place 326 wreaths on the headstones of fallen soldiers who paid the ultimate price — either on the battlefield or later in life — as part of the national Wreaths Across America program.

Local program coordinator Oscar Seyfarth said the ceremony is an opportunity to remember our veterans, honor the families of those fallen and teach children about the cost of freedom.

“Freedom is not free — people can look around and see the cost of it at the cemetery,” Seyfarth said.

Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization that was formed as an expansion of the Arlington Wreath Project that lays 5,000 wreaths at the Arlington National Cemetery.

This year, Wreaths Across America will adorn headstones with wreaths at 550 national cemeteries and memorials.

Seyfarth said the Natchez National Cemetery is one of three national cemeteries in the state, and the entire community is invited to the event — especially children.

“I want to encourage people to bring children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, so that they can learn (about the sacrifices of veterans),” Seyfarth said.

After the Natchez High School ROTC color guard posts the country’s colors and the pledge of allegiance is recited, a few speakers will address the crowd.

Speakers will include Sen. Bob Dearing, Mayor Jake Middleton and Adams County Board of Supervisors President Darryl Grennell.

Seyfarth said he is still searching for someone to sing or play taps at the ceremony, and anyone interested should contact him within the next week. He said ideally, he would like to find two buglers to play “echo taps.”

Although the deadline to donate wreaths for this year’s ceremony has past, wreaths can be purchased throughout the year at wreaths-across-america.org for $15 a wreath or $60 for 10 wreaths. Interested donors can also contact Seyfarth.

“We have the right to celebrate these holidays however we choose to, and the term ‘freedom is not free’ comes from the fact that (those choices) are paid for with lives,” Seyfarth said.

“It’s been that way as long as we have been a county, beginning with the revolutionary solders.”

Seyfarth said the 326 wreaths purchased for Natchez National Cemetery is 10 times more than the number donated last year.

“Obviously I’m elated by (the increase),” Seyfarth said.

While the national organization does not allow “grave-specific” wreaths that allow individuals to donate a wreath and place it on a specific grave, the local program does allow it. Seyfarth said anyone who would like to buy and place a wreath on a specific headstone should contact him when making the donation.

Anyone interested in volunteering to place wreaths can contact Seyfarth ahead of time or show up the day of the ceremony. He can be reached at 601-807-1576.

The wreaths will laid on the west side of the cemetery in sections S and R, and the ceremony will kick off from the pavilion.

Seyfarth said the more people who attend the merrier, and the ceremony is expected to last less than one hour.