Thousands of wreaths, destined for Ottawa’s National Military Cemetery, stolen from Maxville property

The President of Wreaths Across Canada (WRAC) is asking for nearly 3,000 wreaths, destined for headstones at the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa, to be returned.

Cyndi Mills explains in an email to CityNews on Tuesday, November 30, that the wreaths were stolen from the family property of Robert and Jodie Tessier, in Maxville, last Sunday morning.

The Tessiers had rallied the community of Maxville to craft 6,024 wreaths over the course of the last few months, under the leadership of WRAC.

Mills says the theft has put the total coverage of the National Military Cemetery at risk. WRAC is still determined to move ahead with its ceremony on December 5, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. at the Beechwood cemetery. 

“We would simply ask that whomever stole the wreaths to return them to the Maxville property by December 2, 2021, so we can honour the over 2,500 veterans in the other three sections of the National Military Cemetery,” Mills wrote.

“We are also hoping to get volunteer to help us finishing the wreaths either at Maxville property by helping the Tessiers or at Beechwood to finish the trimmings of the wreaths. We had plan to complete the 6,024 wreaths before delivery to Beechwood.”

Anyone with information regarding the theft is asked to call the Ontario Provincial Polic (OPP): File number NBR e210983374.