Legion support for Wreaths Across America won't wane during pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancellation of some Wreaths Across America (WAA) events and altered the way others will be conducted. But it hasn’t stopped what is a three-decade tradition established “remember our fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve, and teach children the value of freedom" through the placing of wreaths on veterans’ graves.

Saturday, Dec. 19, marks the 29th National Wreaths Across America Day. Although the pandemic has impacted the day, hundreds of thousands of remembrance wreaths will be laid on the graves of America's fallen veterans throughout the country and overseas as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.

American Legion Family members again have stepped up to both lead and assist WAA events across the country, purchasing anywhere from dozens to thousands of wreaths.

And for many, it’s the continuation of an annual tradition. Pfeiffer-Morgan Post 290’s American Legion Family has been a part of Wreaths Across America for 10 years in the small town (pop. 700) of Elwood, Neb.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 290 member Stephanie Zerr is serving as the WAA location coordinator and is the husband of Post 290 Commander Paul Zerr. The Legion Family raised funds to place wreaths at Elwood Cemetery and two smaller rural cemeteries – Salem Lutheran East and Salem Lutheran West in Gosper County, Neb. The post also will lay a wreath at the Gosper County Courthouse, where there is a memorial to local KIA from several wars. Legion Family members say each name of those KIA aloud.

“This particular year we have sold the highest number of wreaths in our history,” Stephanie said. “We are very proud to say we did get enough sponsorships to cover all of our Gold Star boys of Post 290 in our Elwood cemetery and Salem Lutheran West.”

Stephanie said the post will have a ceremony prior to the wreath laying that will include a color guard, patriot guard and honor guard, as well as other members of Post 290’s Legion Family. Department of Nebraska District 9 Commander Dennis Kennedy will serve as the guest speaker.

Proper safety precautions will be taken, but Stephanie said it was important the tradition remained “because of the importance of Wreaths Across America's mission of remembering our fallen, honoring our living veterans and teaching our youth about the cost and value of freedom.”

For the Department of Wisconsin American District 8 American Legion Riders, Wreaths Across America has been a part of December for almost a decade. Since 2012, the district’s Rides have been placing wreaths on the graves at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in King. This year will mark the third year their efforts will result in a wreath being on all of the more than 7,200 veterans’ gravesites.

American Legion Rider Evelyn McSherry, a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 153 in Pittsville, has led the effort with her husband Ray, a past two-term state ALR director and a member of Palmer-Ritchie-Thomas Post 153.

McSherry said that because of Wisconsin COVID-19 restrictions, the public will not be allowed to participate in the event, so “the Legion Riders and a small group of members from Legion posts, VFW and other veteran organizations” will place all the wreaths over the course of a few hours.

The following are what some other American Legion Family members are doing to participate in Wreaths Across America this year. American Legion posts and Legion Family members participating in this annual program are encouraged to share their wreath-laying stories on the Legion's web page, www.legiontown.org.

To find a Wreaths Across America event in your area, click here. For all social media postings, use the hashtag #WAA2020.

Montana

• In Stevensville, American Legion Post 94 will carry on its tradition of supporting Wreaths Across America, though in a different manner this year because of the pandemic. In past years, Post 94 placed more than 600 wreaths on veterans’ graves at seven area cemeteries, but this year “the post members have decided to accomplish a scaled-down version by placing a single large wreath in every cemetery,” Post 94 Commander Chuck Burgmeier told the Ravalli Republic. “If anyone has a loved one that is buried (in one of the cemeteries) that’s who we are honoring,” Burgmeier said. “Everyone is welcome to the presentation. We hope a lot of supporters attend. It is COVID safe, you can be as far apart as you want.” Post 94 also will conduct tribute ceremonies at each of the seven cemeteries where it places wreaths. American Legion Post 134 in Florence also will participate.

• In Billings, American Legion Post 4 is teaming with the Billings Parks and Recreation Department and Mountview Cemetery for a Wreaths Across America event. Volunteers will place 250 wreaths at Mountview Cemetery, which will be followed by a noon ceremony. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Billings Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page. The idea came from local Gold Star mom Kathy Gordon, who reached out to Post 4’s American Legion Riders for help organizing the event and raising the funds for the wreaths. "(Gordon) came to us and asked if we would help out and I don't say no to a Gold Star mom who asked good things like that,” American Legion Post 4 Director Gill Floyd told KTVQ. “One thing that happens with servicemembers is that you're in a group that is very tight knit, especially people that have been in combat situations. Doesn't matter where around the country or world you come from, you're a family member. So being able to be there for a family member that has lost that brother or sister is very important.”

Nebraska

Charles Roy Bonham American Legion Post 28 in Beaver City will conduct a Wreaths Across America ceremony at Mount Hope Cemetery and will place 40 wreaths there. It is the first year Post 28 has taken part in the effort. “I urge all American Legion Family organizations to get involved,” Post 28 Commander Don Nitzel said.

New Jersey

In New Jersey, American Legion Post 12 and Somerville Elks Lodge 1068 have been working to raise enough money to place wreaths on all 2,000 graves of veterans buried at the New Cemetery of Somerville.

Oklahoma

• In Coweta, members of American Legion Post 226 will place wreaths in honor of all of the U.S. military branches during a Wreaths Across America ceremony at Vernon Cemetery. Following a ceremony that also includes Chapter 580 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, family members will place wreaths on the graves of the more than 500 veterans buried there.

• In Elmore City, American Legion Post 202 is planning Wreaths Across America ceremonies at four area cemeteries: Antioch, Katie, Foster and Elmore City.

Pennsylvania

In Luzerne County, American Legion Riders from Dallas American Legion Post 672 led an effort that placed wreaths on veterans’ graves at 15 different county cemeteries. Post 672 also hosted a Wyoming Valley Wreaths for Heroes Ceremony, while wreaths also were laid at the held at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center and the Luzerne County Courthouse.

It was Chapter 672’s first Wreaths Across America effort. “It’s an honor for us to do it,” ALR Chapter 672 Director Larry Lansberry told PAhomepage.com. “Too many veterans are forgotten anymore. We do this to honor them and their families.”

Texas

In Weatherford, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 163 is taking part in Wreaths Across America for the first time and will place more than 660 wreaths – enough to cover every veteran’s grave – at the Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery.

Wyoming

American Legion Archie Hay Post 24 and American Legion Tom Whitmore Post 28 are working together with VFW Post 2321 to provide and place wreaths at multiple cemeteries. There will be wreath-laying ceremonies at cemeteries in Rock Springs and Green River; 115 wreaths will be placed by Post 24 at the Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery in the veteran’s section. Wreath-laying ceremonies also will take place at Rest Have memorial garden and River View Cemetery.