Legion Family again taking lead in Wreaths Across America events

A year after a worldwide pandemic either put the brakes on or altered many Wreaths Across America (WAA) events, the three-decade tradition of placing wreaths on the gravesites of veterans will go on this year in a more traditional fashion.

While some COVID-19 precautions will still be in place, the public is expected to have more of a role in this year’s ceremonies and events on Dec. 18. At least that’s what Wisconsin American Legion Rider Evelyn McSherry is expecting at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in King.

“I have a feeling we will have a record crowd as everyone is anxious to get back after not attending last year,” said McSherry, a member of Auxiliary Unit 153 in Pittsville.

Evelyn and her husband, Ray – a past state ALR director and member of Palmer-Ritchie-Thomas Post 153 – have served as coordinators of the large event for 10 years. Since 2012, American Legion Riders from Wisconsin’s District 8 have led the effort to place wreaths at the cemetery, and for the fourth straight year the Riders have raised enough money to fund placing a wreath on every burial plot – more than 7,200 gravesites.

“All headstones will be covered,” Evelyn said. “Not one veteran will be forgotten.”

Other American Legion Family support of Wreaths Across America are smaller in scale but just as meaningful. In Virginia, Legionnaire Thomas Lavan, a member of American Legion Post 493 in Mystic River, N.J., shared that he and members of his family will be traveling to Arlington National Cemetery to take part in the Wreaths Across America event there.

“I am proud that my son Tom, daughters Cathy and Maureen, and grandson Jake are volunteering to show their respect,” Lavan said. “It is important to remember and honor those who dedicated their lives to the services and our country. Just a small way to show our thanks for their service.”

And in Arizona, Post 100 member Malcolm Leonard Jr. said he will be placing a wreath on the grave of his wife, Esther, at Binghampton Cemetery in Tucson.

“Esther served in the United States Air Force and then by my side for the 24 and a half years of my Air Force service,” said Leonard.

The following are a few examples of how American Legion Family members from across the nation will support Wreaths Across America. Please remember to share how your post and/or Legion Family took part in WAA events in your community on www.legiontown.org.

Alabama

In Haleyville, American Legion Whitehead Auxiliary Unit 33 is inviting the public to attend its WAA event at Winston Memorial Cemetery. Families will gather at Post 33 and be escorted into the cemetery to receive wreaths to place. A ceremony featuring Post 33 American Legion Family members and the reading of the names of the veterans buried there will precede the placing of the wreaths.

All participants will be invited back to Post 33 to gather and enjoy refreshments following the event.

California

· American Legion Post 237 in Pleasanton is joining in the effort to support Granada High School senior and BSA Venturing Crew 937 President Kassadee Dyson in the placing of wreaths at Pleasanton Pioneer Cemetery. An estimated 560 veterans are buried at the cemetery.

·  In Templeton, members of Templeton American Legion Post 220 will join the El Paso de Robles Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in placing wreaths on the gravesites of the 350 veterans buried at the Templeton Cemetery.

Colorado

Ray Lines American Legion Post 64 and the Chipeta Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution are teaming up at Fairview Cemetery for the first-ever placement of WAA wreaths on a section of veterans’ graves. Wreaths also will be placed at the Poncha Springs and Howard cemeteries.

Connecticut

In Windsor, Gray-Dickenson American Legion Post 59 and Carmon Community Funeral Homes of Windsor will host their annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Windsor Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Last year more than 500 wreaths were placed at the cemetery.  

Indiana

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 18, with the support of several other organizations, is staging the first WAA event in Bloomington. The event will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery, where 688 veterans are buried.

“As the Vice President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 18, we are proud to be surrounded by organizations, businesses, and sponsors that feel that liberty, freedom, and democracy are important. Without the community’s support, we could not have hosted this event. We are grateful,” wrote Unit 18 Vice President Jenny Tracy in a letter to the editor.

Kansas

In Wichita, Post 4 Legionnaire Joe Hobbs will be laying a wreath on the POW/MIA memorial at Veterans Memorial Park and will join with fellow Post 4 members to help lay wreaths on 700-plus veterans’ graves, before heading to Old Mission Cemetery to lay a wreath on his father’s grave.

Maine

Brunswick American Legion Post 20 Commander Dave Watson took part in a convoy that transported a special wreath that was placed at the Maine State House in Augusta on Dec. 13 to honor veterans.

"It was a no-brainer for me. It had to be done," Watson told NEWS CENTER Maine. "We need to honor our veterans because it is because of our veterans that we have our way of life, that we have our country, that we have our states, that we have our communities and the freedoms and liberties that we have."

Massachusetts

·  In Quincy, members of Robert I. Nickerson American Legion Post 382 have provided fundraising efforts and will take part in the WAA event at Mount Wollaston Cemetery. More than 7,100 wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves.

· In Scituate, American Legion Post 144 is providing 77 wreaths to be placed at the Cudworth Veteran’s Cemetery. Post 144 will conduct a ceremony at the cemetery, which follows a Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Lawson Park.

Mississippi

Donnie Levens American Legion Post 1995 and Eddy Blake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3937 are teaming for the WAA event at the Long Beach City Cemetery, where 261 veterans are buried.

Ceremony participants will include the West Harrison High School JROTC color guard, the Long Beach High School chorus, remarks, and a ceremonial wreath laying for each of the branches of service conducted by a retired and active-duty member of that service.  

“I think it’s a fitting way at Christmas time for families to appreciate their veterans,” American Legion Post 1995 and VFW Post 3937 member Charlie Martinek said. “Although we have Memorial Day and Veterans Day, this is a good time because families get together, and this should be a part of the memories.”

New Jersey

Members of American Legion Post 493 in Mystic Island and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10122 will place wreaths on the 92 graves of veterans at the Scotch Plains Baptist Church Cemetery, including several who served in the Revolutionary War. 

Oklahoma

In Elmore City, American Legion Post 202 will perform ceremonies at both the Antioch and Elmore City cemeteries. Members of the post will place seven wreaths around the cemetery flag poles to honor the U.S. military branches and then one on each of the veterans’ gravesites.

This time around, Post 202 member Ron Endler says they will perform ceremonies at both the Antioch and Elmore City cemeteries on Saturday, Dec. 18.

“Our goal locally for the Antioch Cemetery and Elmore City Cemetery is to place as many wreaths as possible,” Endler told the Pauls Valley Democrat.  

Pennsylvania

Nearly 11,000 wreaths will be placed at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, thanks in part to contributions from several American Legion Family representatives.

Jonestown American Legion Post 883 is donating 939 wreaths to the effort, while American Legion Auxiliary Unit 662 donated 741. Schuylkill Haven American Legion Auxiliary Unit 38 (353 wreaths) and L.B.C. Memorial Auxiliary Unit 153 (316) also donated to the effort; Legion Family members from all four posts will take part in placing the wreaths.

South Carolina

In Greenville, Post 271 Second Vice Commander Stephen Goshorn will be sounding taps during a Wreaths Across America ceremony at Reedy River Baptist Church Cemetery.

Texas

· In Weatherford, American Legion Post 163 is sponsoring Wreaths Across America observance at East Greenwood Cemetery and Memory Gardens of the Valley. Nearly 1,000 veterans are buried in the two cemeteries; American Legion Post 163 will conduct the event at Memorial Gardens. “It’s so no one is forgotten during the Christmas holiday,” Unit 163 President Nancy Cobb told the Weatherford Democrat. “Because it is a time of year that veterans should never be forgotten … it’s a teaching moment for our younger generations.”

· In Mansfield, American Legion Post 624’s Legion Family donated $1,500 to Wreaths Across America for the purchase of wreaths.

Wisconsin

· In Allenton, Fohl-Martin Post 483 made it three years in a row in fundraising success, collecting enough to purchase more than 700 wreaths that will be placed on gravesites across 15 area cemeteries. Members of the post will conduct a ceremony and place wreaths at all 15 locations.

·  In Menominee, members of American Legion Post 146’s Legion Family celebrated Wreaths Across America early with a ceremony that included a proclamation from Menominee Mayor Jean Stegeman, as well as laying wreaths at Riverside Cemetery. Approximately 280 wreaths were placed.