Yaak residents lay Christmas wreaths, make plans to refurbish community hall

This is considered the most wonderful time of the year. 

Even with very little snow in the Yaak, the holiday spirit was alive on Saturday, Dec. 16. It began at 9 a.m. with 11 volunteers gathering to make Christmas wreaths for the 28 veterans resting at Boyd Hill Cemetery, followed by laying the wreaths by each grave. 

The Yaak community has celebrated our veterans at the holiday time since 2019 when two residents came back from a “Wreaths Across America” event in Missoula and everyone wanted to know what it was all about. 

“Wreaths Across America” asks for a $17 per wreath donation to honor a friend or family member who served in the military. The wreaths are made in Maine and delivered nationwide to registered military cemeteries and are laid on every grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. and at registered veteran cemeteries across the United States. 

Yaak’s Boyd Hill Cemetery is not registered with the “Wreaths Across America” organization, but the local Yaak volunteers make the wreaths from locally collected boughs and lay them out on the Boyd Hill graves the same day the organization has their nationwide actvities.

The second event of the day was held at the Yaak Community Hall. A holiday party was held at the hall from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and had 35 people in attendance. There were crafts and actvities for the kids, lots of food, caroling and an opportunity for residents to meet and visit. 

The Yaak Community Hall has been a constant in the community since 1925. In the past, the Hall has hosted holiday parties, church services, Yaak Elementary School programs, weddings, July 4 celebrations, home school activities, potlucks, movie nights and dances. 

The nearly 100-year-old building is showing its age and in need of repairs. The Hall has electricity, but no running water or septic. The floor is becoming unstable and a hazard. 

The holiday party was a chance for Hall President Craig Johnson to explain the situation to the residents. Attendees got to see what repairs are needed and fill out a form describing what kind of activities they think should happen at the community hall in the future. 

As member-at-large Robyn King said, “what do you want the Hall to look like in the next 100 years?”

The Yaak Community Hall Board is looking forward to hearing from the community. They are busy planning the 100-year celebration that will take place in 2025. Membership to the Hall costs $15 per family. The Hall can be rented by a member for $10 and a non-member is charged $25.

They are currently looking for grant funding to begin the repairs to the building. They are asking for donations and help from the public. If you have questions or would like to donate to this effort, please reach out to Bonnie Surrell (295-7153) or Robyn King (295-4936).

Yaak residents have been gathering at the Yaak Community Hall for nearly 100 years. (Photo courtesy Sandra Beder-Miller