Zionsville Family to Fund 500 Wreaths for Veterans
Peter, Teddy and James Monahan and their father Brian are raising money for wreaths for veterans' graves at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Monahan family of Zionsville is raising funds through Wreaths Across America to place 500 wreaths on veterans' headstones at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. The effort is set to coincide with the nationwide placement on December 19.
Why it matters
The fundraiser honors Capt. John Monahan, a Vietnam War veteran and father of Brian Monahan, and supports the national effort to remember veterans at their gravesites each December. Local residents can join the effort by donating to honor veterans buried in the Indianapolis area.
The family's goal is 500 wreaths, a fraction of the roughly 5,000 veteran headstones at Crown Hill Cemetery, while Wreaths Across America plans to place 3 million wreaths nationwide on December 19. The amount raised to date has not been reported.
The players
Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that places wreaths at veterans' graves in military cemeteries across the country each December.
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery is a large historic cemetery in Indianapolis that holds about 5,000 headstones honoring veterans.
The details
Brian Monahan and his sons Peter, Teddy and James are raising funds through the nonprofit Wreaths Across America, which places wreaths at veterans' graves in military cemeteries each December. The Monahans volunteered at Crown Hill Cemetery last year, and the fundraiser is in memory of Capt. John Monahan, a Vietnam War veteran. Donations can be made at any time of year through wreathsacrossamerica.org/IN0257.
Timeline
2025: The Monahans volunteered placing wreaths at Crown Hill Cemetery.
December 19, 2026: Wreaths Across America places 3 million wreaths nationwide.
Philanthropy Context
The Monahan fundraiser is one local contribution to Wreaths Across America's annual December wreath-laying, which the nonprofit coordinates to place 3 million wreaths nationwide. Community-funded efforts like this one sustain the program's reach each year at cemeteries such as Crown Hill.
Indianapolis residents who want to honor veterans can donate to the Monahan family's campaign at any time of year. Donations support the placement of wreaths on veterans' headstones at Crown Hill Cemetery each December.
The takeaway
Donations can be made at any time of year, so supporting veterans' graves does not have to wait until December. Readers interested in honoring veterans locally can contribute to campaigns like the Monahans' to help place wreaths at Crown Hill Cemetery.
What happens next
Wreaths Across America will place 3 million wreaths on December 19, 2026, with the Monahans' goal of 500 wreaths expected to be part of that national effort.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage for Indianapolis readers.
More information
Donations for the Monahan family's wreaths can be made on the Monahan family Wreaths Across America donation page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Current Publishing.
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