Ridgelawn Memorial Cemetery

Wreaths Across America will return this winter to honor our nation’s heroes at Ridgelawn Memorial Cemetery, located at 99 West Burdick Street in Oxford.

We recently spoke with Chris Acheson, whose family has been part of the Oxford area since the early 1900s. His great-grandfather, W.O. Smith, purchased the cemetery in 1927, and it has remained family-owned for generations.

This year’s Wreaths Across America ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025, with wreath laying beginning at 10:30 a.m. and a formal service at noon. The public is warmly invited to attend and help place wreaths. Volunteers can look forward to hot chocolate, coffee, and a warming area on site.

Each wreath costs approximately $17. Chris shared his long-term vision of partnering with local organizations and ultimately placing a wreath on every veteran’s marker in all Oxford and township cemeteries.

Fundraising for 2026 is expected to begin in late spring. Plans are underway for a donation website and QR code system, which should be ready by June 1, making it easy for individuals and businesses to contribute online. Chris also hopes to visit local businesses throughout the summer to invite community-wide support. More information on how and when to donate will be shared as it becomes available.

Wreaths Across America’s mission is simple but powerful: Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom. The community is encouraged to participate by sponsoring a wreath, volunteering, or inviting friends and family to help ensure no veteran is forgotten.

Parade photog CJ at Charter Township of Oxford. Thank you, again, for taking photos of the parade!