The Webster community has done it again.
At Saturday afternoon’s Wreaths Across America ceremony, an estimated 1,000 adults, children, veterans, active military and first responders gathered at Webster Union Cemetery to honor our veterans at the 2023 Wreaths Across America Day, proving once again what a generous and caring community Webster is.
Local Wreaths Across America organizer Cherie Wood was delighted by the extraordinary response from the Webster community, which was about three times the number of volunteers who attended last year’s ceremony, the first held in Webster.
It was that amazing support that allowed Webster’s Wreaths Across America effort to expand significantly this year. Last December only 650 wreaths were placed at one cemetery, Webster Union. This year Webster was able to add to more cemeteries — Webster Rural and Union Hill — where volunteers placed an amazing 1,350 wreaths. And most of those wreaths were sponsored one at a time.
The ceremony began promptly at noon. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem and a moment of prayer, Wood explained how Wreath Day is not just a local occurrence, but was happening at the exact same time at more than 4,200 cemeteries across the country and in foreign battlefields.
“More than four million wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves today” by three million volunteers, she said, reminding everyone that, “We are not here to ‘decorate graves.’ We are here to remember not their deaths, but their lives.”
Following Wood’s remarks, representatives from each of our nation’s armed services placed ceremonial wreaths in memory of those who served, and those who are still listed as Prisoners of War or MIA. It was especially moving when Dorothy Reid and Grace Allen, from Gold Star families, placed the Army wreath. Dorothy lost her son, and Grace lost her father, in Afghanistan.
Family members of veterans who are resting at Webster Union Cemetery were invited to enter the grounds first to place wreaths on their loved one’s graves, followed a few minutes later by the rest of the volunteers. Wood encouraged each participant to say the veteran’s name out loud before placing the wreath, and take a moment to thank him or her for their service.
She explained,
It’s a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive. Wreaths Across America has a saying: A person dies twice. Once when they take their last breath, then again when their name is said for the very last time. Many of our veterans no longer have family to remember them. Today, we, the Webster community, will become their family. They will not be forgotten. Not on our watch.
After placing the wreaths at Webster Union, volunteers were invited to drive to Webster Rural and/or Union Hill to help place those wreaths.
The heartwarming support from the Webster community has even been noticed by the National Wreaths Across America organization. Many locations struggled to meet their goals this year; the funding just didn’t happen. But here in Webster, in just our second year, we more than doubled the number of wreaths placed and added two more cemeteries. Next year, Wood hopes to add even more cemeteries and more veteran wreaths, until all 3000 veterans resting in Webster are remembered and honored.
I was very proud of my community that day, and I was especially touched by how many entire families attended, involving their children in this solemn ceremony, teaching them how important it is to remember and honor our fallen heroes.
Click here to see an entire gallery of photos. Thank you to Glenn Peck and Rebecca Parzynski for their photos (which I have included in the gallery). If you have any photos you’d like me to add to the gallery, please email them to me at missyblog@gmail.com. (Via text and Facebook they come out too small!)
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Want to help kick-start next year’s Wreaths Across America effort?
Through Tuesday, Jan. 16, The National Wreaths Across America organization will match one-for-one every wreath sponsored. So for just $17, you can sponsor two wreaths for placement at next year’s ceremony, Dec. 14, 2024. Click here to find out more!
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