12/23/2025

The wreath laying ceremony for Wreaths Across America was held on December 13th and turned out to be a record success. Over 8,200 wreaths were placed by volunteers at the tombstones of veterans at Dayton National Cemetery. According to Wreaths Across America Site Coordinator Justin MacKellar, the ceremonies usually only result in two to three thousand wreaths being laid.

The conditions were cold and snowy, but that didn't deter over 500 volunteers to lay wreaths. Dayton National Cemetery is the final resting place to over 62,000 veterans, and Wreaths Across America shows up each year to ensure their sacrifices are not forgotten.

Wreaths Across America will be back next year and you can already sponsor a wreath for 2026.

Navigating insurance claims can be tricky. Even when dealing with VA insurance. Dealing with claims can be especially difficult during times of crisis, such as when a loved one becomes medically incapacitated. Insurance is the last thing you want to think about during such difficult times. Fortunately, VA has issued some changes to VA insurance to make navigating these tough times a little easier.

In the past, to receive an Accelerated Benefit Option (ABO) when using VA insurance, a veteran had to apply for the ABO themself. Unfortunately, this isn't always possible when the veteran is medically incapacitated.

A new change will allow an alternate applicant to apply for the ABO on behalf of a terminally ill member who is incapacitated. It will also allow for members to apply for the ABO when their insured spouse is terminally ill. 

We had another great year of signups for the MCVSC newsletter. As always, we love to hear feedback so that we can ensure we provide the best information for our local veterans.

We've gotten strong representation from the Army and Air Force with our new signups, comprising 67% of the total. 20% of new signups served with the Navy and 13% with the Marines. We didn't have any signups from the Coast Guard or Space Guard, but given our location, that's understandable.

Celebrate the Holidays in Montgomery County

There are plenty of holiday activities around Montgomery County. Take the family out and check out these events:

A Carillon Christmas

Join us for A Carillon Christmas to see Carillon Historical Park’s 65-acre campus transformed into a winter wonderland of sparkle, magic, and holiday cheer!

Carillon Historic Park will be decked out with Christmas lights and there will be food, drinks, music, Santa Claus, craft demonstrations, and more.

5:00–9:00 p.m. Sunday – Thursday
5:00–10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday

Lasts until December 30th

Deck the Diamond

Step into a winter wonderland at Day Air Ballpark, where the magic of the season shines bright! Experience the enchantment of over 1.1 million dazzling lights and enjoy a festive lineup of holiday activities perfect for the whole family.

6:00–9:00 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday
Closed Christmas & New Year's Day

Lasts until January 3rd

Rike's Holiday Windows 2025

The RIKE’S HOLIDAY WINDOWS’ animated elves and animals first appeared in NCR’s New York office windows in 1943, but many Daytonians remember them from their annual holiday pilgrimage to the Rike’s Department Store which sat on the corner of Second and Main Streets.

Come to Downtown Dayton to view the elves through the windows at the Schuster Center.

December 26th – December 30th
6:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday

Christmas Eve Skate at RiverScape MetroPark

Christmas Eve

11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.