Wreaths Across America, and across Tioga and Bradford County

“I am the daughter of a WWII veteran,” said Laura Hoppe of Waverly. 

She continued, “My father was a flight instructor. I am the wife of a proud veteran, serving in the Navy. I cry when I hear our National Anthem played. I’m proud to live in this great country, and have an opportunity to place a wreath on the graves of the brave men and women who proudly served. Placing a wreath on the graves of my husband and dad gave me great comfort and peace.” 

Wreaths Across America volunteers from veterans, Boy Scouts, church, community and school groups took time out of their busy schedules to participate in last Saturday’s program of placing wreaths on veteran graves and memorials in Tioga, Northern Bradford and Susquehanna Counties, and the Valley communities of Waverly, South, Waverly, Sayre and Athens. 

The long-range objective is a wreath on the graves of all 5,000 veterans resting in Tioga County cemeteries. 

In Washington, D.C., at Arlington National Cemetery, 75,000 volunteers laid an estimated 240,000 fresh balsam fir wreaths, each adorned with a festive red bow, for the first time on all headstones of fallen heroes 

Twenty-year Navy veteran Jim Anthony, of Sayre, Pa., and Chief Cyber Assurance Officer at the White House, stated, “Thousands of people lined up at the gates of Arlington National Cemetery before dawn last Saturday morning. It was bitterly cold. The temperature was far below freezing. There was snow on the ground. None of it dampened the spirits of those who looked forward to laying a wreath on a gleaming white headstone of an American hero.” 

This year’s turnout was the largest since the annual “Wreaths Across America” tradition started in 1992. One amazing day, with 1,422 participating locations nationwide. Nearly 500 truckloads transported 1,565,000 veteran remembrance wreaths throughout the country.

Executive Director Karen Worcester stated, “I cannot express the pride we all feel, when given a chance to step back and take in the view of a mission accomplished, after the wreaths had been paced. But what I am most proud of – is our volunteers. They persevere through all kinds of weather and challenges – all heeding the call to do their part. They help make the Wreaths Across America experience available to everyone. They, our volunteers, are the caretakers of our freedom, by honoring those who fought and sacrificed for those freedoms. Congratulations on a job well done.”

Morrill Worcester, president of the Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, Maine, recalled that he had ordered more wreaths than he could sell in ’92. 

Worcester happened to think of Arlington because he had come there when he won a trip to Washington as a newspaper carrier. He saw the changing of the Guard, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and acres of memory he has never forgotten. 

So he hoped Arlington would say yes to wreath laying. Arlington said yes. He began donating 5,000 holiday wreaths to decorate veteran graves. The gesture caught on like wildfire, thanks to an Air Force photographer’s picture of headstones with red bow wreaths in the snow on the Internet, and has expanded every year to more military cemeteries and communities like those in the Owego area. 

In Owego, a ceremony, held in conjunction with Wreaths Across America, took place at the Courthouse Square in Owego, and at the Veterans Memorial.  You can view photos from the event by clicking here. 

Price Chopper in Owego donated all the wreaths placed at the Tioga County Veterans and Tioga County Civil War Union Memorial, and those used to post at cemetery entrances. 

Wreaths were placed in Historic Evergreen Cemetery at the 80-grave Civil War Site and at the Rt. 38 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor above Turner’s Bridge.  

In St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Gold Star Mother Barbara Bilbrey, husband Charles, and son Patrick laid a wreath at the grave of her Fallen Hero son Army Specialist Charles Bilbrey Jr., killed in action on July 26, 2007 in Iraq. 

Bilbrey stated, “We recently marked the tenth year since we lost Charlie. Even after ten years Charlie is the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thought I have at night. For anyone who has suffered a loss, the Christmas season can be very difficult to get through. This brief time during the Christmas season gives us all a small moment to pause during the holiday season and reflect on the service members, past and present who have served our country and the families who are passing the holiday season without them. It has become part of our holiday plans since Charlie has died.” 

Broadway Cemetery on Day Hollow Road in the Town of Owego received a wreath from Marnie Schrader. Evergreen wreaths honored veterans in the Ukranian Cemetery in Athens. Connie Fedorowicz and her grandchildren placed five wreaths on family headstones in Nichols Cemetery. 

Vietnam Veteran Gary Umiker and Maurice Stoughton placed a wreath at the Veterans Monument at Evergreen Cemetery in Berkshire on Dec. 7 to honor the service of Pearl Harbor Survivor Dick Hopkins of Berkshire, and all of our veterans. At the entrance to Brown Settlement Cemetery on Brown Road in Berkshire, Maurice Stoughton and Cousin Ruth Stoughton placed a wreath to honor veterans.

In Apalachin at Riverside Cemetery, Trustee JoAnn Walter placed a wreath at her WWII father’s grave, and another at Civil War Fallen Hero David B. Brown’s grave. 

David’s story is one of many that make the message of Wreaths Across America so important. David died at the Battle of Fredericksburg on Dec. 13, 1862, and it is her understanding he also fought at Antietam just three months before that.   

JoAnn says she likes the concept of Adopt a Grave. She says in a way she feels as though she’s adopted David B. Brown. She says when she visits Riverside to check things out, not only does she stop by her dad’s grave, but she takes the time to walk to the opposite side of the cemetery to check on David. The wreath placements remember and honor our veterans during the holiday – a time of traditions, 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 Waverly, at three war memorials and four cemeteries, the VFW and American Legion and Friends of the Waverly Cemetery Preservation Group held a wreath laying ceremony that included a prayer, rifle salute and taps in honor of all war veterans. Waverly Mayor Patrick Ayres and Trustee Jerry Sinsabaugh joined the Valley Color Guard at each ceremony. 

Waverly Coordinator Ron Keene says the group is hoping that this is going to take off next year. He felt the volley and taps got a lot of attention. He encourages more people in Waverly to place wreaths on more veteran graves next year. 

Keene hopes veteran headstones in cemeteries elsewhere in the Town of Barton receive wreaths from volunteers. He says there is a need for all our towns and villages in Tioga County and across the border in Bradford County to start working together and get behind this Wreaths Across America project. `

There are National Cemeteries in Elmira and Bath where wreath-laying ceremonies were held last Saturday. At Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira, 4,000 wreaths were placed among 7,800 headstones. You could not keep the people away, even with snow. Cameron Manufacturing sponsors the wreaths. Next year organizers are aiming to have a wreath placed at each of the graves in the cemetery. Bath National Cemetery placed 2,700 wreaths where 13,048 are buried. 

Remember this, “In truth a person dies twice, once when he stops breaking, and a second time when somebody mentions his or her name for the last time. This past Saturday over one million volunteers nationwide said the names of a million fallen out loud, to make sure they will never be forgotten.”

A profound thanks to all who supported Wreaths Across America.