There’s not much done around the holiday time to honor them. The wreath is the circular symbol of hope to remember and honor those who have served in combat or in the military at peacetime. Our community would like to reach every veteran’s grave. Our citizens do their utmost to render honor where honor is due.
If you drive by a cemetery without an evergreen wreath hanging at its main entrance in Tioga, Northern Bradford or Susquehanna Counties, or in the Valley communities of Waverly, South Waverly, Sayre and Athens, find a way to get one there before Christmas.
Church members are asked to friend or adopt a cemetery and hang a remembrance wreath.
Families and community organizations are reminded to place wreaths at veteran headstones, weather permitting.
The wreath placements are part of the National Wreaths Across America to REMEMBER and HONOR our veterans during the holiday – a time of traditional family gatherings – and TEACH our children that we are able to do so, in peace, because of the many sacrifices made by our military men and women.
In Owego, at noon on Saturday, a moment of silence began the ceremony at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial to remember the fallen, the prisoners of war, the missing in action, and to honor those who have served and are serving this great nation’s armed forces.
The Honor Guard of the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371, Veterans of Foreign Wars, posted the colors and laid wreaths.
Iraq War Gold Star Family Barbara and Charles Bilbrey and veterans placed wreaths at the memorials remembering 172 fallen heroes from Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, World War II and World War I, and Tioga County veterans who served in the armed forces.
Adjutant Ben Gardner of the 137th Volunteer Infantry placed evergreen wreaths at the Tioga County Union Memorial, also in Courthouse Square, and Newark Valley Deputy Historian and Vietnam Veteran Jerry Marsh followed with a talk about the role of Tioga County soldiers in the Civil War.
The pastor of Central Baptist Church of Greene, the Rev. G. Terry Steenburg of Owego, blessed the wreaths and offered the prayer and invocation.
Veterans, community and church members braved the snow to place wreaths at cemeteries and veteran memorials throughout Tioga, Northern Bradford and Susquehanna Counties and Waverly and the Valley area.
Waverly VFW Post 8104, the American Legion, the Valley Color Guard, and the Village, County, and Friends of the Waverly Cemetery Preservation participated in ceremonies at four cemeteries and four War Memorials. Waverly Mayor Dan Leary helped to lay the wreaths.
Tioga County veterans and the Waverly Friends of Cemetery Preservation thank all who are participating in the tenth annual Wreaths Across America Program locally.
On Saturday folks across the nation came on a mission – to lay wreaths – and they left with a memory. The veterans who are laid to rest at cemeteries are the people who have ensured that America is free today.
Your final action is to report what you did for your veterans and cemeteries, and recommendations for 2017 to Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Chairman Jim Raftis, Sr. by email to jraftis2@stny.rr.com.
Be the first to comment on "Wreaths honor veterans"