• Wreath-laying is Saturday in Pickens

There are 273 known gravesites in Pickens Cemetery, including 37 confirmed veterans, most of whom are Revolutionary War veterans.

That number also includes the grave of Robert Pickens, a relative to General Andrew Pickens and captain of the South Carolina Militia.

Southern Wesleyan University acquired the cemetery and surrounding property through a generous donation by the Rev. Carl Garrison. The university is excited for the opportunities the property will provide to students as they research the rich and relatively unknown history of the Upstate of South Carolina.

Southern Wesleyan is partnering with Wreaths Across America (wreathsacrossamerica.org) to honor the service, sacrifice and commitment of the veterans interred at Pickens Cemetery.

The historic cemetery will be the site of a wreath-laying ceremony at noon this Saturday. The public is invited to the ceremony at Pickens Cemetery, located at 900 Three and Twenty Road near Easley.

Though there is no cost to attend, wreath sponsorships are available for $15. For details, contact the SWU Advancement Office at (864) 644-5008 or advancement@swu.edu.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992.

The organization’s mission — Remember, Honor, Teach — is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at hundreds of veterans’ cemeteries in all 50 states and beyond.

• Pickens Christmas parade set for Friday

The 2019 Pickens Christmas parade is planned for this Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. Applications for entering the parade are available at cityofpickens.com, Pickens City Hall and the PRA office (during business hours). There will be fireworks and a movie after the parade.

The parade will be presented by the Azalea Festival Committee and the city of Pickens.

• Moving Forward Group to meet

The Moving Forward Group for widowed persons meets the second Tuesday of each month at Silver Bay Restaurant on U.S. Highway 123 in Easley. Held at 6 p.m., the meeting offers a night of fellowship, encouragement and making new friends. For more information, call Marian Huskins at (864) 295-1714.

• Sertoma Club invites locals to meet

The Clemson Sertoma Club invites all interested local residents to attend its meetings.

The club meets at noon the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Occasions at Wedgefield, located at 1551 Eighteen Mile Road in Central.

New visitors are always welcome.

• WPO offers chance at monthly fellowship

The Widowed Persons Organization (WPO) organization is not a grief therapy group, but it does provide an opportunity for widowed persons to come together, make new friends and share conversation and food while finding a new beginning in life. The group meets on the second Saturday of every month at 1 p.m. in the fellowship building of Lakeview Baptist Church on Mauldin Lake Road in Pickens. For more information, call (864) 850-1987 or (864) 878-6215.