There was a brisk breeze in the air and the sun was shining as eighth grader Riley Buchanan laid wreaths on the graves of veterans at Maple Hill Cemetery.
Buchanan and her mother, Sarah joined Artemis counselor Erin Coggins to help the non-profit Wreaths for Veterans decorate the graves for the holidays. Sarah is a veteran, having served as a medic in the Army.
"We did this last year so we when Mrs. Coggins sent out an invitation to participate, we jumped on the opportunity," Sarah said.
The three were asked to guide 75 students from Madison County High School in the process of laying the wreaths. Riley, Sarah and Coggins sought out the graves needing the wreaths and relayed this to the Madison County Students.
"In walking the cemetery, I directed a student to place a wreath at a footstone of a veteran that had served in WWI, WWII and Korea," Coggins said. "I was so glad Riley and her mother took advantage of the opportunity to do this for our veterans. We had a great time."