A Wreath on every Veteran grave

A Wreath on every Veteran graveWreath posted at Riverside Cemetery in Lounsberry to remember veterans at Christmas time. Communities locally, are asked to model Riverside. In their cemetery of choice, place wreaths on as many veteran graves as possible before National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, Dec. 16. (Photo contributed by Jim Raftis, Sr.)

Stand in a cemetery. See all the gravestones of veterans marked by small American flags. They’ll remind you of the freedoms these veterans fought for. Every time you lay a wreath, read and say out loud the name on each veteran gravestone. Be grateful for the honor to recognize them for their service and sacrifice. 

The Mission of Wreaths Across America Day, planned for Saturday, Dec. 16, is to REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those who served and TEACH children the meaning of freedom. 

Volunteers from all church, community organizations, business, industry and general public and veterans are asked to post an evergreen wreath at the main entrance to a cemetery in Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna Counties, and the Valley communities of Waverly, South Waverly, Sayre and Athens. 

Families are encouraged to place wreaths on the headstones of their veterans. Our hearts go out to the family members – the brave men and women who sacrificed for the peace and freedom we enjoy today. 

Individual citizens may visit a cemetery and lay a wreath so a veteran isn’t forgotten during the Christmas season.

Local organizers hope that 2017 will be the year that a wreath can be placed on every veteran grave. Wreaths Across America is held at Christmas time because it is a way to honor and remember loved ones at a time when families traditionally come together. 

Veterans and Gold Star Families will lay remembrance wreaths for Tioga County’s 172 fallen heroes, including POWs and MIAs, especially from the early Korean War at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial at noon on Saturday, Dec. 16. This touching ceremony ensures those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country are never forgotten during this holiday season

Pastor Rev. G. Terry Steenburg will bless the wreaths and offer the invocation and benediction. Daughters of Civil War Union veterans will lay a wreath at the Tioga County Civil War Union Memorial. 

American Legion and VFW veterans in Nichols, Waverly, Sayre, Spencer Van Etten and Candor are asked to hold ceremonies at veteran memorials and cemeteries in their communities.  

Families and friends with no veterans are encouraged to find a veteran grave and place a remembrance wreath.  

In Waverly, Friends of Waverly Cemetery Preservation, under the leadership of Ron Keene as well as village and town officials, will participate. Waverly church bells may ring at noon from First Baptist, Methodist, First Presbyterian and St. James. 

National Wreaths Across America Day celebrates its 26th anniversary at noon, on Saturday, Dec. 16 at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and at over 1,000 veteran cemeteries in the United States, 25 veterans cemeteries on foreign soil and naval ships on the seven seas. Volunteers will lay thousands of wreaths on veteran headstones.  

This year’s theme is “I Am An American. Yes, I Am.” 

Past themes describe the meaning of the day: “Say Their Names Out Loud This Year on National Wreaths Across America Day.” “Don’t Say I Should Have, Say I Did,” “The Christmas They Never Had,” “In Honor of Those Who Have To Spend A Holiday Away From A Loved One,” “In Memory Of Those Who Never Made It Home,” “Come With A Mission, Leave With A Memory,” and “Then, Now And Forever – Let’s Make It Personal.” 

Participating Owego area veterans represent the Tioga County Marine Corps League, Veterans of Modern Warfare of Afghanistan and Iraq, Vietnam Veterans of America, Tioga Post 401 American Legion and Post Auxiliaries and Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Post Auxiliaries. 

The wreaths will honor in a very special way those willing to sacrifice that we might have freedom and our way of life, remember so that their service and sacrifice is never forgotten, and teach so that those who follow will know and understand and make sure past efforts were not in vain. 

It is surprising to see the number of veterans who are buried in our local cemeteries. It is worth one’s time to drive through, get out and walk through the entire cemetery. There are veterans of the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Union as well as Confederate, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan and many more who served in the cold war. 

For more information and to report your activities and suggestions, contact Glenn A. Warner Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1371 Memorial Chairman Jim Raftis by calling 687-4229 or by email to jraftis2@stny.rr.com

Be the first to comment on "A Wreath on every Veteran grave"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*