Tag Archives: Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America Day needs you

19 Nov

We’re less than four weeks away from Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday Dec. 16, when the Webster community will come together to place wreaths on more than 1,200 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, more than two million volunteers placed over 2.7 million wreaths at 3700 cemeteries across the U.S. and abroad.

Webster was a big part of that effort, joining Wreaths Across America for the first time. Last December, more than 300 adults and children, including first responders, veterans and active service members, gathered at Webster Union Cemetery to lay 650 wreaths. (Click here to read the blog about that incredible day.) It was an incredible outpouring of support from the Webster community.

Local organizers hope the community will show that commitment again next month as Webster joins Wreaths Across America for the second straight year. This year, even more support is needed, because Webster’s Wreaths Across America effort will be expanding to THREE cemeteries.

On December 16, 2023, volunteers will be placing more than 1,220 veteran wreaths in Webster Union, Union Hill and Webster Rural cemeteries. A group of military veterans will take care of Union Hill, but community volunteers are needed to lay wreaths at Webster Union and Webster Rural.

The plan is to meet at noon at Webster Union Cemetery (corner of Rt. 250 and Woodhull) for a brief Wreath Day ceremony, and the laying of 663 wreaths. Volunteers will then travel to Webster Rural Cemetery (1087 Ridge Rd.) to lay another 500 wreaths there.

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). Click here to do so. Individual wreath sponsorships are just $17, and $5 from each will go directly to the Blue Star Mothers, who will use the funds to prepare and ship care packages to deployed servicemen and women (every dollar you donate stays in Webster).

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

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(posted 11/19/2023)

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Garlic Fest success kick-starts expanded Wreath Across America effort

21 Oct

I heard some happy news the other day.

The very moving and heartwarming Wreaths Across America ceremony will be expanding in Webster this year to two more cemeteries.

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the country. Last year, the movement reached Webster; on Saturday Dec. 17, more than 300 adults and children gathered at the official Wreaths Across America ceremony at Webster Union Cemetery to help lay more than 650 wreaths. (Click here to read my blog about that day.)

Cherie Wood, Wreaths Across America’s Location Coordinator for Webster, recently told me that the effort will not only be returning to Webster Union Cemetery this December, but also to Union Hill and Webster Rural cemeteries.

The good news is, that means hundreds more veterans will be recognized on National Wreaths Across America Day on December 16, 2023. The not so good news is that hundreds more wreaths will need to be sponsored in the next few months to honor those veterans.

The effort is off to a strong start thanks to the Webster Garlic Festival, held in September. Almost 100 vendors filled the Rec Center gymnasium and outdoor walkways, and an estimated 3,000 people attended. It was a very successful event, especially considering it was the first Garlic Festival held in a few years. The proceeds were shared among Wreaths Across America; the Blue Star Mothers, who create care packages to send to our deployed servicemen and women; and the Gold Star Mothers, who support emotionally and physically injured veterans.

PLUS, in addition to the money raised from vendors and admission, our generous community members sponsored 400 wreaths during the festival.

As I said, that’s a good start for this year’s Wreaths Across America effort. But we’re adding two new cemeteries this year; almost one thousand veterans are buried in Webster Rural Cemetery alone, and another 56 at Union Hill. Together with Webster Union Cemetery, we’re talking almost 1,700 veterans.

We’re going to need more wreaths.

Individual wreath sponsorships are just $17, and $5 from each will go directly to the Blue Star Mothers, who will use the funds to prepare and ship care packages to deployed servicemen and women (every dollar you donate stays in Webster). This is a great chance for families to honor their own veteran relatives who are buried in these three cemeteries.

Click here to sponsor a wreath (or several) and click here to see and follow the Wreaths Across America Facebook page to keep up on all the latest news.  

Please sponsor your wreaths by Nov. 20, because that’s when the order needs to be put in.

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 10/21/2023)

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Photos from the Garlic Festival

9 Sep

I stopped by the Webster Garlic Festival this morning for a few hours and wanted to share some photos with you in a bonus blog today.

This is a terrific event (and I say “is” because it continues tomorrow). There are SO MANY garlic and craft vendors, a good number of food trucks and food vendors, even some things for the kids to do. There are also some great opportunities to support our troops by creating a personal message to be included in a care package, and sponsoring a wreath for Wreaths Across America.

You can pet an alpaca, have an ice cream cone, start your Christmas shopping, check out some demonstrations (like garlic-twisting), and learn more about some Webster community organizations. All for just $5 per person (12 and under free).

All proceeds from the Garlic Festival benefit Wreaths Across America Webster, dedicated to placing a wreath on the grave sites all 3,000 veterans in our seven Webster cemeteries. Proceeds also support local military families through Blue Star Mothers Rochester NY8.

This Webster Garlic Festival continues tomorrow, Sunday Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.

Click here to see lots more photos from today.

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 9/9/2023)

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Kinecta presents donation to Wreaths Across America

18 Aug

Here’s a quick shout-out to Kinecta Federal Credit Union for their great “Kinecta Kindness Award” program and their decision to recognize a terrific local organization that’s close to my heart.

On Wednesday Aug. 16, Kinecta presented a $250 check to Wreaths Across America Webster, an organization committed to placing a wreath on the grave of every one of the 3,000 veterans who rest in Webster’s seven cemeteries.

The donation will be used to sponsor wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves at Webster Union Cemetery on National Wreath Day, December 16, 2023. Plus, $5 from every sponsorship will be passed on to the Blue Star Mothers of Rochester to help build care packages for our locally deployed service members.  

Wreaths Across America Location Coordinator Cherie Wood and Blue Star Mothers ROC NY8 president Amy VanDerwerken were on hand to accept the donation.  

Kinecta supports and employs both veteran and active duty service members, proving their commitment to the Wreaths Across America Webster and Blue Star Mothers (military families) causes. Kinecta Federal Credit Union is dedicated to supporting the community, providing both resources and volunteers for all sorts of community projects. Look for them volunteering at the Webster Garlic Fest, September 9 to 10 at the Webster Recreation Center, and helping the Webster community lay wreaths on National Wreath Day at Webster Union Cemetery.

The Kinecta Kindness Award program recognizes acts of kindness throughout the community. Wreaths Across America was nominated by Kinecta employee Kimberly Barkley.

Pictured above (L-R) are: Blue Star Mothers ROC NY8 president Amy VanDerwerken, Wreaths Across America Webster Location Coordinator Cherie Wood, Financial Advocate IV and Active Duty Army National Guard member Rob Seay, and Kinecta Community Program Manager Andrew Myers. Not Shown:  Assistant Retail Services Manager Ashley Michaels.

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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 “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/18/2023)

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Veterans remembered again on Wreath Retirement Day

18 Mar

On Saturday Dec. 17 last year, precisely at noon, hundreds of adults, children, local officials, first responders, veterans and active-duty service members were gathered at Webster Union Cemetery. The occasion was National Wreaths Across America Day, and the volunteers were there to help lay more than 650 wreaths, one for every veteran resting in the cemetery. It was an incredible outpouring of support from the Webster community, a truly touching ceremony and a moving tribute to our veterans. (Click here to read the blog I wrote about that day.)

For three months the wreaths rested there among the grave markers, reminding every visitor of the great number of Webster residents who have fought for our country. It was a stunning sight, so many wreaths, adorned with bright red bows, spread around the snowy grounds.

Unfortunately, however, the wreaths couldn’t stay there forever. So on Saturday March 18, a much smaller — but no less dedicated — group of community members gathered again at Webster Union for Wreath Retirement Day. They included Boy Scouts from Pack 420, Girl Scouts from Troop 60344. and the 209th Regiment Cadets. Together, they gathered the wreaths, stacked them along the roadways, then tossed them onto a big pile at the back of the cemetery. There, WVFD Fire Chief Andrew Vorndran set them all ablaze. Afterwards, all of the volunteers sat down for a lunch provided by Mission BBQ in Henrietta, a big supporter of Wreaths Across America.

It was a sad day in some respects, as we literally saw months of nonstop planning and effort go up in flames. But it was comforting to know that, just like on the day they were placed, each time a wreath was removed from a headstone, a veteran was remembered once again.

Check below for a slideshow of photos from the day, featuring many of our friends and neighbors who came out to help.

Planning has already begun for this year’s Wreaths Across America Day. The Webster community was so incredibly supportive of our town’s very first Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 17 that organizers hope to add at least one additional cemetery this year, and eventually recognize every one of the more than 3,000 veterans buried in Webster’s seven cemeteries. Which is why, months before that happens, the call is already going out for community members and businesses to sponsor wreaths.

So stay tuned for more updates from Wreaths Across America in Webster, and let’s help make sure this incredible program continues to grow. Click here to see and follow the Facebook page, click here to sponsor a wreath (or several), and click here to see the blog I wrote following Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 17 to see what a moving and inspirational event this is.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 3/18/2022)

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The Webster Garlic Fest is back!

23 Feb

I got some very exciting news the other day.

After a three-year hiatus, one of Webster’s most popular family-friendly festivals, the Webster Garlic Fest, will be returning to the Webster Recreation Center in September.

The Webster Garlic Fest was last held in 2019. In just a few short years, the event had grown so popular that the garlic growers and craft vendors filled the Rec Center’s gymnasium and spilled out onto the grassy areas outside. Plans were well under way for an even larger event in 2020, but then COVID hit, which put pretty much everything about normal life on hold indefinitely.

This year, however, an enthusiastic new group of volunteers has teamed up to bring the Garlic Fest back later this summer. Even at this very early planning stage, they’ve already got a lot of interest from garlic growers and other vendors. They’re also planning to bring back all kinds of demonstrations, information tables from community groups, raffles, crafters, and food trucks.

Basically, the Webster Garlic Fest is a garlic-lover’s paradise. And even if you’re not a huge fan of garlic, rest assured you’ll find plenty of vendors and activities for you and your kids to enjoy. Or, as committee co-chairperson Cherie Wood said, “We know everyone will have a stinkin’ good time, and have garlicious fun!”

One of the fun new twists this year will be the young “Cloves,” which Wood said are “vital to any serious garlic festival.” These are wee little garlic cloves scurrying around the grounds trying to keep “Vamp,” the friendly, garlic-fearing vampire at bay. Everyone is definitely going to want to meet these adorable little vegetables.

Another great new feature of this year’s festival is that all proceeds will benefit the Wreaths Across America effort in Webster, and the Blue Star Mothers Rochester NY8.

Wreaths Across America is dedicated to placing a wreath on the grave of every one of the 3,000 veterans who rest in Webster’s seven cemeteries. Proceeds will go toward sponsoring the wreaths, with a portion going back to the Blue Star Mothers to build care packages for our locally deployed servicemen and women.  

Right now, organizers are looking for vendors to participate in the festival. If you’re a garlic grower, craft vendor, demonstrator or community group, they want to hear from you. Visit the website for more information and to apply.

The Webster Garlic Fest will be held Saturday and Sunday September 9 and 10, at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. Find out more here on the Facebook page and here on the website. Both will be updated regularly as details are finalized. You can also email WebsterGarlicFest@gmail.com if you have any questions.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 2/23/2023)

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Planning begins for Wreaths Across America Day 2023

10 Jan

You would think that following the very successful Wreaths Across America Day at Webster Union Cemetery in December, the effort’s organizers would take a well-deserved break and recharge their batteries before jumping right into planning for Wreath Day 2023.

They did. For about … maybe two weeks.

If you follow the Wreaths Across America – Webster Union Cemetery Facebook page like I do, you’ve probably noticed an uptick in activity as plans are already ramping up for this year. The Webster community was so incredibly supportive of our town’s very first Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 17 that organizers hope to add at least one additional cemetery this year. Which is why, 11 months before that happens, the call is already going out for community members and businesses to sponsor wreaths.

There’s actually a great incentive right now, too. Through Jan. 17, for every wreath sponsored through the Gold Star Mothers, Webster will get two wreaths for our fallen heroes. (Click here to sponsor.) This is an excellent opportunity for our community to get a huge head start on this year’s event. Sponsoring a wreath costs just $17.

The national Wreaths Across America organization has also recently announced the theme for 2023. This year, the focus will be on the storylines of veterans and military families who’ve found success through their own service, while also highlighting local volunteers across the country and the success that comes from serving their communities.

So stay tuned for more updates from Wreaths Across America in Webster, and let’s help make sure this incredible program continues to grow. Click here to see and follow the Facebook page, click here to sponsor a wreath (or several), and click here to see the blog I wrote following Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 17 to see what a moving and inspirational event this is.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 1/10/2023)

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Webster community mailbag

19 Dec

End-of-year events and notices are winding down, but I do have a few things for your consideration this morning.

This first note is from Cherie Wood, my friend and ultra-amazing organizer of the recent Wreaths Across America event at Webster Union Cemetery. The day of the ceremony, she was being pulled in a hundred different directions, so never really had a chance to get out into the grounds herself to place a wreath or see others do so.

On Sunday, she went back to take a look. She wrote,

After church this morning, I drove into the cemetery to see the wreaths. I had to get in line. Everyone was slowly driving by, on all the cemetery roads. It was like driving around, looking at Christmas lights. I suspect most of them were with us yesterday.

That little story is a touching illustration of how much this event meant to our community. And while I agree with Cherie that a lot of those people had probably participated in Wreath Day on Saturday, I also think that many of them were people who couldn’t make the event, but wanted to be a part of it anyway, and to pay their respects.

The Webster Museum reminds everyone that if you want a chance to vote for your favorite decorated mini-Christmas tree, time is running out.

A lot of people have already cast their votes, and the race is tight, so head on down and share some holiday cheer! The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. The last date to vote for your favorite tree is December 29.

The museum will be closed December 24 and 25 and open for visiting and voting 2 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 27 and 29. You can also see all the trees and vote for them on the museum website.

Here are a few examples of what you’ll find:

If you like to dance, you might want to check out the weekly contra dance events at the Harmony House, sponsored by the Country Dancers of Rochester.

Contra dancing is a kind of folk dance characterized by long lines of dancers. It’s a lot of fun, great exercise and it’s a great group of people. Dances are held on Thursdays beginning at 7:30 p.m. They even offer introductory lessons beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, check out the flyer below.

The Harmony House is on 58 East Main St. in the Village of Webster.

Now THIS is a good idea.

The Webster Police Department has set up a Safe Zone just outside their front door at 1000 Ridge Rd., where you can meet customers with whom you’re doing online business.

If you need to meet someone to receive payment or a product, you can arrange to meet them in the Safe Zone, a part of the parking lot which is under video surveillance. Check the flyer above for more information about this great opportunity.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 12/19/2022)

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The Webster community came together for Wreaths Across America Day

17 Dec

Earlier this year, when it was first suggested that Webster participate in Wreaths Across America, organizers knew it would be asking a lot from the community.

After all, Webster Union Cemetery, chosen for the first-ever ceremony, is one of the larger cemeteries in town. It’s the resting place for about 650 veterans, so decorating each of their graves would require that many wreaths, costing $15 each. Still, organizers knew that Webster is a generous town, and they had high hopes the community would support the effort.

No one, however, expected the overwhelming outpouring of community support they received.

Not only did businesses and local residents sponsor more than 650 wreaths, on Wreath Day — Saturday Dec. 17 — more than 300 adults and children gathered at the official Wreaths Across America ceremony at Webster Union Cemetery to help lay the wreaths. Many first responders, veterans and active service members also participated.

The ceremony was the culmination of months of organizing, fundraising and publicity efforts led by Cherie Wood, Wreaths Across America Location Coordinator for Webster Union Cemetery, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Canandaigua Chapter. She was delighted and touched by the incredible community response.

“Our first responders, VFW, American Legion, Blue and Gold Star families, and active duty service members have been amazing,” she said. “There’s no end to who made this a reality.”

“I’m awed how the community of Webster came together and embraced this project. Most of our wreaths were sponsored one at a time. People who simply wanted to honor our fallen heroes. It’s rare that a cemetery is 100% sponsored their first year. Our community hit this one out of the park.”

Wood especially credited L3Harris, Jersey Mike’s Subs and Mission BBQ for their incredible business support.

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, saying,

Today, December 17, is National Wreaths Across America Day. In over 3,700 cemeteries across the country, and in foreign American battlefields, about 2.7 million people are meeting at noon, just as we are. This year over 3 million wreaths will be placed on veteran graves. 

Because of the generosity of the Webster community … we have a wreath  for every veteran in Webster Union Cemetery. Webster pulled together and embraced this project  in a way that has received national attention. This should give us amazing pride in our community.     

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.

“It’s a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive,” she explained. “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.”

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. Lt. Nguyen of the U.S. Navy, Purple Heart Recipient Chief Max Elia and Gold Star Mother Dorothy Reid also spoke.

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.

Webster Union Cemetery is one of 600 first-time cemeteries to participate in the Wreaths Across America ceremony this year. Based in large part on the tremendous support Wood saw from the Webster community this year, she’s already hoping to expand the effort next year.

“It’ll grow in this area,” she said. “Next year, we hope to add more cemeteries, and keep adding in coming years, until all five cemeteries are covered. That’s about 3,000 fallen veterans.”

Click here to see a whole gallery of photos.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 12/17/2022)

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Webster welcomes the Wreaths Across America truck

16 Dec

If you happened to see an 18-wheeler making its way along 250 this morning, escorted by two Webster police cars with lights flashing, you saw the Wreaths Across America truck! It was delivering our 650 wreaths, which will be placed on veterans’ graves at Webster Union Cemetery tomorrow afternoon.

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

WPD officers met the truck at the North East Joint Fire District Station #2 at Plank and Salt roads and escorted it up 250, through the village, and all the way to Webster Union Cemetery, where our 75 boxes of fresh wreaths were unloaded in preparation for tomorrow’s ceremony. I don’t know if anyone was able to get outside and cheer the truck on as it went through the village, but we had several people welcoming it at the cemetery.

Pat, the truck driver, was pleasantly surprised — and a bit taken aback — by the fanfare. As plans for the escort were coming together, he even asked Location Coordinator Cherie Wood why the police were coming. He said that the welcome was the best he’s experienced in the two years he’s been driving for Wreaths Across America. He did add, however, that the Location Coordinator in Speculator gave him a gift bag “that was so heavy the handles broke.”

Pat did have a little trouble with the weather as he headed south and west from Maine on his deliveries. “I barely made it up the driveway in Utica.” he said. “It’s like this, and they didn’t have it scraped out.” He added that it would be great if Webster could sponsor so many wreaths next year that he could just “fill the entire truck and I would just have to stop here.”

Arriving at the cemetery
Unloading our 75 cartons
Cherie (R) and me with Pat the driver

After leaving Webster, Pat had three more stops, in Chili, Walworth and Pembroke.

About 300 people have already signed up to help lay the wreaths tomorrow at the Wreath Ceremony, which begins at noon at Webster Union Cemetery at the corner of Rt. 250 and Woodhull. We’re going to need a lot more help (especially if the weather is yucky and people decide to stay home.) There’s still time to sign up. Click here to do so. Parking may be an issue, so stay tuned to my Facebook page for updates on plans for that and other important details.

Many photos and videos were taken this morning. Click here for a full gallery, which I will also be adding to later. (Many thanks to Rogina Davis for most of these photos.)

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I leave you with this touching story:

A Wreaths Across America Location Coordinator in Texas said a tornado went through their little town on Tuesday. It toppled headstones, took down trees and bent the flagpole in half.

But Wreath Day will go on. The town turned out to clean everything up in time for Saturday’s ceremony. They said they needed Wreath Day more than ever this year, and weren’t going to let a tornado stop them.

That really kind of sums up the significance of this event. Please consider signing up to become a part of it.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 12/16/2022)

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