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Despite cold temperatures, snowy grounds and a pretty heavy snowfall which arrived during the event, Webster’s 2025 Wreaths Across America Day was once again a success.

On Saturday afternoon, several hundred adults, children, veterans, active military and first responders gathered at Webster Union Cemetery to honor our veterans, proving once again what a generous and caring community Webster is.

The ceremony began promptly at noon. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem and a moment of prayer, local Wreaths Across America coordinator Cherie Wood explained how Wreath Day is not just a local occurrence, but was happening at the exact same time at almost 5,000 cemeteries across the country and in foreign battlefields.

She said,

Today, more than 4 million people will be meeting at noon, just as we are, to place wreaths. At this moment wreaths are being placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Almost five million wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves today, including here in Webster.

We have a big job ahead of us today. Because of the amazing heart of the Webster community, today we will be placing 2,100 veteran wreaths in four Webster cemeteries. … This should give us amazing pride as a community.

You should also know that the Town of Webster has caught national attention, In 2024, Webster ranked second in the country for the number of veteran wreaths placed in one town.

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.

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, Union Hill and Holy Trinity cemeteries to help place those wreaths.

Wood added that this year’s ceremony was dedicated to Private William McFarland, “a Revolutionary War patriot who has never been honored for his service to our country.”

In 1772, 16-year old William McFarland told his parents he couldn’t just watch others fight for independence. He had to do his part. So William joined the Continental Army and fought with General George Washington. After serving for six years, William was discharged from West Point with high distinction. In thanks, he was given farmland in what would become Webster, NY. His children and grandchildren carried on his legacy by starting our town government. Webster is the amazing town it is because of him. Private McFarland was one of our first veterans, and until today, 253 years later, has never been thanked for his service.

Private McFarland’s headstone is located in the oldest part of Webster Union cemetery.

Thank you to everyone who helped organize this moving event, and to all of the community who came out to lay wreaths. I especially loved seeing entire families participate. What a great way to teach children about how important it is to remember and recognize our nation’s veterans. 

Click here to see an entire Facebook gallery of photos from the day. (Or if you don’t have Facebook, click here.)

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/14/2025)

Tags: Missy Rosenberry, Webster NY, Wreaths Across America

The Wreaths Across America truck came through the Village of Webster Tuesday morning, escorted by the Webster Police Department, carrying more 2,100 wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves at Webster Union, Webster Rural, Union Hill and Holy Trinity cemeteries this coming Saturday Dec. 13.

(My regular blog readers know the story about how Webster is participating in Wreaths Across America again this year, but in case you need some background, click here.)

WPD officers Kyle Arseneau and Erik Rynders met the truck at the Roseland Fire Station on Salt Rd. in Penfield and escorted it up Rt. 250, through the village, and all the way to Webster Union Cemetery, where the wreaths were unloaded, separated and distributed to the participating cemeteries in preparation for Saturday’s ceremony. The truck is part of the Wreaths Across America “Honor Fleet,” made up of hundreds of trucking companies who volunteer their drivers, equipment and time to deliver more than three million wreaths every year to every corner of the country.

Our volunteer driver this year — again — was Pat Benson, from JR Kays trucking in Clarendon, PA. Pat has driven this Wreaths Across America route for three of the last four years.

The event was a nice kick-off to what will be a very moving ceremony when the Webster community comes together to remember and honor our nation’s veterans this Saturday Dec. 13. I hope you can join us. Everything begins at noon at Webster Union Cemetery, then continues afterwards at Webster Rural, Union Hill and Holy Trinity. Find out more details at the Webster Wreaths Across America Facebook page.

Here are some photos from when the wreaths were offloaded:

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Here are some bonus photos also from last Saturday, when 50 volunteers flagged 2,100 veteran graves in the four cemeteries so participants know where to lay the wreaths. Mission BBQ (a huge Wreaths Across America supporter!) catered lunch for the volunteers, and the Red Cross kept everyone thawed with hot cocoa.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/11/2025)

Tags: Missy Rosenberry, Webster NY, Wreaths Across America

We’re less than two weeks away from Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 13, when the Webster community will come together to place wreaths on more than 2,100 veterans’ graves.

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization which began 30 years ago, its mission to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the country. Last December, four million volunteers placed more than three million wreaths at 4,000 cemeteries across the U.S. and abroad.

Webster was a big part of that effort, joining Wreaths Across America for the third time. Last December, several hundred adults and children, including first responders, veterans and active service members, gathered at Webster Union Cemetery to lay hundreds of wreaths then spreading out to Webster Rural, Union Hill and Holy Trinity cemeteries. (Click here to read the blog about that incredible day.) It was a heartwarming outpouring of support from the Webster community.

Local organizers hope the community will show that commitment again as Webster joins Wreaths Across America for the fourth straight year, on Saturday Dec. 13. The plan is to meet at noon at Webster Union Cemetery (corner of Rt. 250 and Woodhull) for a brief Wreath Day ceremony. Following the ceremony, volunteers can stay there to lay wreaths or travel to Webster Rural, Holy Trinity and Union Hill to lay those cemeteries’ wreaths.

Adults and children of all ages are encouraged to take part in this very moving ceremony. Start a new holiday tradition for your family; it’s a great way to teach your children about how important it is to remember and recognize our nation’s veterans. Mark your calendar now and stay tuned for more details. You can also follow the Wreaths Across America Facebook page to keep up on all the latest news.  

Right now, you can help by sponsoring a wreath (or several). Each sponsorship costs $17, and $5 from each will be donated to local Gold Star Families, who have lost an immediate family member in active duty. Click here to go to Webster’s Wreaths Across America page and sign up.

And stay tuned for details about when the Webster Police Department escort the 18-wheeler through town as it transports our wreaths from Maine to Webster Union Cemetery. I’ll post updates on my Facebook page as I heard about them!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 11/30/2025)

Tags: Missy Rosenberry, Webster NY, Wreaths Across America

You’ll be hearing a lot more about this in the coming weeks, but I wanted to get this year’s Wreaths Across America Day on your radar. This year’s ceremony will be held on Saturday Dec. 13 at Webster Union Cemetery. (Click here to read about last year’s event.)

Wreaths Across America Day is an initiative to honor and remember fallen veterans, a day when volunteers place wreaths on the graves of almost 3 million veterans at cemeteries across the country and across the world. Webster has participated in this solemn occasion every year since 2022, when volunteers placed about 650 wreaths at Webster Union Cemetery. In 2023, Webster Rural and Union Hill joined the effort and 1,350 wreaths were placed. Last year, we added Holy Trinity Cemetery, and raised our wreath total to 2,100.

Thanks to the amazing support from the Webster community, our little town typically ranks in the top 5% for the number of veterans honored.

As I said, I’ll get you more details later about the actual ceremony, but right now we as a community have to come together to make sure we have enough wreaths for this year. Wreaths Across America Local Coordinator Cherie Wood tells me her goal again this year is 2,100 wreaths, enough for all of the veterans in all four participating cemeteries: Webster Union, Webster Rural, Union Hill and Holy Trinity. But she’s still a long way away from that goal.

Her dream is actually to have enough EXTRA wreaths sponsored to add West Webster’s 350 veterans, which would raise her goal to 2,450 veteran wreaths.

When it comes to Wreaths Across America Day, Webster NEVER disappoints. Our community support has grown bigger and bigger every year, allowing Cherie to honor even more veterans every year. So let’s not let her down.

Please click here to go to Webster’s Wreaths Across America page and consider sponsoring one or several wreaths. Each sponsorship costs $17, and $5 from each will be donated to local Gold Star Families, who have lost an immediate family member in active duty.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/27/2025)

Tags: Missy Rosenberry, Webster NY, Wreaths Across America

The 2024 Wreaths Across America statistics are in, and we have a lot of be proud of here in Webster.

For the second year in a row, Webster proved that we have one amazing community. Last year, out of 174 participating towns in New York State, our little town ranked #2 for the number of veterans honored on National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 14. And out of 6,621 groups that participated nationwide, Webster ranked in the top 2%. What’s particularly impressive about those numbers is that we achieved these rankings with only four participating cemeteries, AND Webster only joined the effort three years ago.

These numbers can be attributed to the incredible support from Webster community members, business owners and service agencies. Several hundred volunteers, including countless veterans, active military and first responders, came out on Wreaths Across America Day on last December to place an amazing 2,100 wreaths on veteran graves at Webster Union, Webster Rural, Union Hill and Holy Trinity cemeteries. (Click here to read the blog I wrote about that day.)

Webster’s amazing commitment to our veterans has grown every year. In 2022, volunteers placed about 650 wreaths at Webster Union Cemetery. In 2023, Webster Rural and Union Hill joined the effort and 1,350 wreaths were placed. Last year, we added Holy Trinity Cemetery, and raised our wreath total to 2,100.

Wow.

So this is all great news. But the goal this year is once again 2,100 wreaths for Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday Dec. 13. That’s a lot of wreaths, but if past experience is any indication, Webster will come through again with flying colors.

Individual wreath sponsorships are just $17, and $5 from each will go directly to the Gold Star Mothers — who have lost an immediate family member in active duty — who care for veterans in need in our community.

Click here to sponsor a wreath, and thank you, Webster, for your support! And stay tuned as plans for Wreaths Across America Day 2025 on Saturday, Dec. 13 start to come together. Follow the Wreaths Across America – Webster Facebook page to keep up on the latest!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 4/17/2025)

Tags: Missy Rosenberry, Webster NY, Wreaths Across America

The Webster community has done it again.

At Saturday afternoon’s Wreaths Across America ceremony, several hundred adults, children, veterans, active military and first responders gathered at Webster Union Cemetery to honor our veterans at the 2024 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 amazing response from the Webster community. It was that support that allowed Webster’s Wreaths Across America effort to expand to a fourth cemetery this year. Last December 1,350 wreaths were placed at three Webster cemeteries: Webster Union, Webster Rural and Union Hill. This year, Holy Trinity joined that list, and among the four cemeteries, volunteers placed an amazing 2,100 wreaths on Saturday morning.

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 almost 5,000 cemeteries across the country, in foreign battlefields and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“Today almost five million wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves today, including here in Webster,” Wood said, reminding everyone that, “We are not here to ‘decorate graves.’ We are here to remember not their deaths, but their lives. Each wreath is a gift of appreciation from a grateful nation.”

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, Union Hill and Holy Trinity to help place those wreaths.

The heartwarming support from the Webster community has even been noticed by the National Wreaths Across America organization. In 2023, Webster placed in the top 4% of the country for the number of veteran wreaths placed in one town. Webster has a lot to be proud of.

For sure, I was very proud of my community that day, and I especially appreciated seeing entire families attend the event, involving their children in this solemn ceremony. It’s a great way to teach them how important it is to remember and honor our fallen heroes.

Click here to see an entire gallery of photos.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/16/2024)

Tags: Missy Rosenberry, Webster NY, Wreaths Across America

If you happened to see an 18-wheeler making its way along 250 Tuesday afternoon, escorted by several Webster police cars with lights flashing, you saw the Wreaths Across America truck! It was delivering our 2,100 wreaths, to be placed on veterans’ graves at Webster Union, Webster Rural, Union Hill and Holy Trinity cemeteries this coming Saturday Dec. 14.

My regular blog readers know the story about how Webster is participating in Wreaths Across America again this year, but in case you need some background, click here.

WPD officers met the truck at the Roseland Fire Station on Salt Rd. in Penfield and escorted the truck up Rt. 250, through the village, and all the way to Webster Union Cemetery, where the wreaths were unloaded in preparation for Saturday’s ceremony. The truck is part of the Wreaths Across America “Honor Fleet,” made up of hundreds of trucking companies who volunteer their drivers, equipment and time to deliver almost three million wreaths every year to every corner of the country.

Our volunteer driver this year was Pat Benson, from JR Kays trucking in Clarendon, PA, accompanied by his friend Garry Root. Town Councilwoman Patti Cataldi, Holy Trinity representatives Gary and Lori Smith, and Webster’s Wreaths Across America coordinator Cherie Wood accompanied the procession as it wound its way through town,.

A huge shout-out to the WPD officers who volunteered their time to provide the escort and give the Wreaths Across America truck a memorable Webster welcome: Sgt. Andy Frate, Tom Turner, Kyle Arseneau and Erik Rynders.

It was a great kick-off to what will be a very moving ceremony when the Webster community comes together to remember and honor our nation’s veterans this Saturday Dec. 14. I hope you can join us. Everything begins at noon at Webster Union Cemetery, then continues afterwards at Webster Rural, Union Hill and Holy Trinity. Find out more details at the Webster Wreaths Across America Facebook page.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/10/2024)

Tags: Missy Rosenberry, Webster NY, Wreaths Across America