Rose Hill Cemetery was the site of three ceremonies on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Scout Troop 60 posted the colors, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) hosted a Wreaths Across America ceremony. Each branch of the military was honored with a wreath by a local veteran. Janice Duffy hosted this event as veterans buried in the cemetery were honored with a wreath placed at their headstone.
In 2024, over three million sponsored veterans’ wreaths were placed by volunteers on headstones at 4,909 participating locations worldwide. Wreaths Across America volunteers tirelessly work year-round to Remember, Honor, and Teach, with each name spoken out loud in grateful acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by our veterans for our freedoms.
The second ceremony was the recognition of Rose Hill Cemetery’s acceptance into the National Register. Mayor Jerry Jackson and Councilman Larry Phillips, chair of the Perpetual Care Committee, thanked the DAR and those involved who worked tirelessly to document the fact that more than 90 percent of the graves were over 50 years old. Nita Gould, Robin Anderson, and Ann Hancock worked on this project on behalf of the DAR.
The third ceremony belonged to Kyle Whiteside. After the city removed the Rose Hill Cemetery archway, Kyle sanded, painted, and restored it to its original beauty as part of his Eagle Scout Project. Scout Leader Todd Anderson presented Kyle with a plaque to be displayed at the entrance to the cemetery, right underneath the Historic Register plaque that the city had purchased.