Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization best known for its annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 900 locations nationwide and overseas. The mission is to Remember, Honor, and Teach about the service and sacrifices of our veterans and to help our children understand the value of freedom.
Service men and women sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year to preserve our freedoms.
With over 5,000 veterans buried in Tioga County cemeteries, local organizers are looking for an overwhelming response from individual families to go to a cemetery in Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna Counties and place a wreath on a veteran grave and at the main entrance to the cemetery.
Gold Star Mothers and Families who have lost a son in the service of our country in any war will have a wreath at their son’s grave. Families of veterans are encouraged to place a wreath at their veteran’s grave.
The local vision of 100 percent coverage for 2015 is an ambitious initiative and can be achieved.
Here’s how. Each family participates. All veterans and auxiliary organization have active involvement. All churches and their youth groups participate. Active support comes from all community organizations, businesses, individuals and school children.
Success depends on people buying or making a wreath for a veteran’s grave and taking it to the cemetery of their choice. Churches help by taking the initiative to adopt a cemetery and place a wreath at its main entrance. Pastors may briefly explain the Wreaths Across America program in services on Sunday, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6.
Veteran organizations are encouraged to hold wreath laying services at their community’s veterans memorial to include the Nichols American Legion for Town of Nichols area, the Waverly VFW and American Legion and Auxiliaries for the Village of Waverly and Town of Barton areas, and the Sayre VFW for Valley cemeteries, the Candor American Legion for the Town of Candor area, the Spencer Van Etten VFW and Ladies Auxiliary for the Town of Spencer area. Veterans from Newark Valley, Berkshire and Richford can take the lead for their communities, and Owego area veterans are asked to check cemeteries in the Town of Owego and Eastern Town of Tioga areas.
Evergreen wreaths with red bows will be placed in front of the Tioga County WWI, WWII, Tioga County All Who Served, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan Memorials and Civil War Memorial in the Courthouse Square. These wreaths recognize the sacrifice our veterans and their families have made for our country.
Wreaths at Veteran Monuments in Owego, Nichols, Candor, Spencer Van Etten, Waverly, and the Valley will be placed by the VFW, the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of Modern Warfare, the Tioga County Marine Corps League, the VFW and American Legion Men’s and Women’s Auxiliaries, and the Sons of the American Legion.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of Modern Warfare will actively participate by illuminated wreath displays at the entrances to Maple Grove Cemetery in Candor and the Nichols Cemetery. They’ll be asking Scouts in both communities to make additional wreaths.
Here are reasons why it is most important. Most local cemeteries have veterans and fallen heroes from every war in U.S. History. This year’s goal is to place a remembrance wreath on every single veteran’s headstone.
Every December since 1992, thousands of wreaths donated by the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine are placed at the headstones of America’s honored dead at Arlington National Cemetery.
Morrill Worcester initially brought 4,000 surplus wreaths from the holiday decoration company he owns to adorn gravesites at Arlington 23 years ago. As Mr. Worcester told an Air Force reporter in 2005, “It is a great honor to be able to come here and pay our respects.”
In 2005, a captivating photo went viral, showing thousands of wreaths leaning against headstones atop a light whisper of snow on the ground. That sparked the national Wreaths Across America effort.
But as word spread, the mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach about the sacrifices made by our veterans has captured the hearts and minds of many communities across the country like Owego and Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna Counties.
In Bradford, Sandra Lee Speath Murray of Rome places wreaths at Windham Valley Home Cemetery, Windham Summit Bible Church Cemetery, Osborne Hill Cemetery and Strope Road. She encourages families in neighboring communities to wreath their cemeteries.
In Waverly, the Waverly VFW Post 8104, the American Legion, the Valley Color Guard, Village, County Dignitaries, and Friends of the Waverly Cemetery Preservation will place wreaths at four cemeteries and three War Memorials in the village and at Emory Chapel and Hamlet of Barton Cemetery.
Wreaths Across America was formed in 2006 as a nonprofit organization in direct response to letters, requests, and supporters about how they too could get involved and bring the Arlington Wreath Project experience to their local communities.
Owego and Tioga County began the practice of honoring her fallen heroes who served and sacrificed for our freedoms and expanded the program to all veterans in December 2007.
The December 2015 objective is a Christmas wreath on each veteran gravestone. A Gold Star Mother stated, “You will never, ever forget the first wreath that you lay, it just touches your heart.”
To report what you’re doing or to find out more about the importance of the Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna County Wreaths Across America Program, contact Glenn A. Warner Post 1371, Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Day Chairman Jim Raftis by email to jraftis2@stny.rr.com or by calling (607) 687-4229.
Thank You for Making Veterans Day Ceremonies
Veterans say Thank You to the Owego and Tioga County community for the large turnout to honor local veterans on Veterans Day 2015.
Thank to the 137th Volunteer Infantry for traveling in again for the ceremony. Historian Jerry Marsh of Newark Valley reported 230 from the 137th and 107th New York Infantry died from the 2,000 who enlisted in 70 different regiments.
Riverview and Elderwood
Thank you to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of Modern Warfare and Ladies Auxiliary of Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars for remembering veterans living in Riverview Manor Health Care Center. One veteran in particular showed his appreciation by crying as he left the dining area in a wheelchair to his room. “Thanks for remembering us and our service and sacrifice!”
Thank you Sayre Elks Lodge for your annual Veterans Appreciation Ceremony at Elderwood of Waverly led by Veterans Chairperson and Past Exalted Ruler Ruth Owen.
Twenty-eight veterans received certificates, pins, programs, and cake and ice cream. Mayors Dan Leary of Waverly, Tim Hickey of South Waverly, and George Whyte of Athens thanked the veterans for their service and sacrifice.
NV Historical Society Appreciates Northern Tioga Veterans
Thanks to the Newark Valley Historical Society for honoring for the 10th year in a row their Berkshire, Richford and Newark Valley veterans, wives and widows.
They recognized the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard for their Service of Honor to veterans at military funerals. Bugler Dean Morgan reported 27 military funerals so far this year and a total of 140 since 2012.
They honored Gold Star Mother Barbara Bilbrey who remembered other Gold Star Mothers as she honored her son Charlie who was killed in Iraq.
Northern Tioga Valor Honor Update
Newark Valley, Richford, and Berkshire have 35 valor honor recipients including Fallen Heroes, Purple Heart Recipients, and Bronze and Silver Star Recipients. Deputy Historian Nellie Snapp has devoted countless hours to compile and document this information.
