Wreaths Across America to honor veterans

Wreaths Across America focuses on honoring veterans and their sacrifices. 

The goal in Tioga, Bradford and Northern Susquehanna Counties and the Valley communities of Waverly, South Waverly, Sayre and Athens is a placing a live balsam wreath on every veteran grave during the holidays. 

Our soldiers have died, but they can’t be forgotten. That’s the whole thing with Wreaths Across America: Remembering our soldiers who have died for our country and those who served honorably and came home. Locals say it helps them put a smile on their face, saying, “We’re never going to forget our veterans.” 

On Saturday, Dec. 15, cemeteries across the country, including Owego, will host wreath laying ceremonies beginning at noon. 

The 11th annual program will take place shine or snow at noon at the Tioga County Veterans Memorials to honor with wreaths Fallen Heroes from Afghanistan and Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, and the First and Second World Wars. Also honored are those veterans who came home after two or four year stints and in later years died. 

Services will also be held at the Tioga County Civil War Union Memorial. The 137th New York Infantry will post colors, lay a wreath and give a rifle salute. Adjutant Ben Gardiner will honor the 500 from Tioga County who died in the Civil War. 

The Color Guard of Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars will post colors. The Rev. G. Terry Steenburg will offer the prayer. 

Scoutmaster Matt Lewis’ Boy Scout Troop 60 will honor 18 Tioga County Fallen Heroes buried in overseas military cemeteries by hanging wreaths on two stands in front of the memorials. Veterans thank Price Chopper-Owego for donating the wreaths for the second consecutive year. 

Troop 60 Boy Scouts, led by new Eagle Scout Ryan Trenchant, have been laying wreaths on the graves of Fallen Heroes in Tioga County cemeteries.  

Educating children and serving veterans is part of this process. This event brings awareness to the community of all that has been sacrificed through the generations, through many wars, by men, women and families. 

What the volunteers do has always been about families and honoring and remembering every single person. When there is a chance to remember and honor someone, especially a veteran, that’s a huge focus and is like a tradition. 

Wreaths Across America is a way of remembering and thanking sons and other veterans and offering solace to their families. 

The holidays are very hard. Volunteers say they thought this was a great way to show honor to the families and do something that’s meaningful. Volunteers say we get to lay wreaths on their grave and remember them by saying their name individually. 

Wreaths are individually purchased. Because of weather, starting now they may be placed at the entrances to every cemetery and on as many veteran graves as possible. Active participation from all individuals in the community is necessary for Christmas wreaths on veteran graves. Remember they served for our freedoms. 

Contact Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial and Veterans Day and Wreath Chairman Jim Raftis by email to jraftis2@stny.rr.com.