'We are here to remember not their deaths, but their lives'

When Department of Michigan American Legion Family members Greg and Dianne Paul decided to start a Wreaths Across America (WAA) event in Hillsdale, Mich., they were surprised to find out most in the city had no idea what they were trying to start.

That’s likely no longer the case.

Greg and Dianne spearheaded an effort that raised enough funds to place wreaths on veterans’ gravesites in two local cemeteries – a total of close to 1,050 wreaths. And on Dec. 17, those two joined fellow Legion Family members and local residents to place those wreaths in an event drawing 200 or so people.

“It went well. I think it really went well,” said Greg, a member of Leighr A. Wright Post 53 in Hillsdale. “We weren’t sure what to expect, but I think it was a great turnout.”

A temperature of 25 degrees and a wind chill lowering that numbers into the teens didn’t deter a crowd gathering at Oak Grove Cemetery, which has gravesites dating back to the Civil War, for an opening ceremony and the placing of around 650 wreaths. Another 400 or so wreaths were then placed at Lake View Cemetery, which is located less than a mile from Post 53.

Steady snow flurries and a few inches of snow on the ground were the perfect backdrop for the balsam fir wreaths and the red ribbons tied to them.

“This ground that you’re standing is hallowed,” said Hillsdale College Associate Dean of Men Jeff Rogers, the event’s master of ceremonies. “The blood and sweat of the men and women we’re going to honor have made it possible on this cold day that you have a warm heart. We’re to be most thankful. It’s good and right that we’re here.”

A retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer, Rogers made it clear during the opening ceremony what the message of the day was. “Remember, we are not here today to decorate graves. We are here to remember not their deaths, but their lives,” he said. “Each wreath is a gift of appreciation from a grateful nation. Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout the nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear. We can worship as we see fit. We can raise our children and believe as we do. We are free to vote for the leaders of our choosing. And we have the right to succeed and the right to fail at whatever endeavor we wish to pursue.”

Youth participants in the Hillsdale Civil Air Patrol assisted with the presenting of the colors and the wreath-laying portion of the ceremony, which included active-duty servicemembers and honored every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as U.S. prisoners of war and those servicemembers missing in action.  

And Jonesville American Legion Post 195’s honor guard provided a three-volley salute and the playing of taps to conclude the ceremony.

The day’s events and success were the culmination of nearly a year-long effort by Greg and Dianne, who moved from Toledo to Hillsdale around a year ago.

“We were already involved with Wreaths Across America in Toledo,” Greg said. “Last year, we were looking for someplace local because of the weather … and we found that Hudson, (Mich.) was doing it, and we went and helped them out.

“When we were leaving, we were like, just jokingly, ‘Maybe we can start a (WAA) chapter in Hillsdale. And it took off from there. We started researching it, and here we are.”

After doing some research and getting the project going, the Pauls went to Post 53 to seek its support. And while it did provide that support, Post 53 Commander Christopher Parks quickly deflected the credit to the two people with the original idea.

“It’s that guy and that lady,” Parks said, pointing to Greg and Dianne. “My job is to round up the troops and try to rally the troops and make people’s ideas happen. But it’s (the Pauls). I’ve got a few people out here, but it’s so much their work. But everyone has been behind them from the get-go.

“We’re veterans. This supports veterans. And this brings the community together to remember their veterans. My boss, his dad was a (U.S. Army) recruiter here in Hillsdale, and he died about a year ago. When I told my boss at work about this, he was like, ‘Well, yeah, we’re definitely going to be there.’ The widow is still here … and she was all kinds of excited that we were doing this thing.”

The post’s fundraising effort included a pancake breakfast with silent auction, setting up booths at local events throughout the year and through donations from the community. The latter was a nice surprise for Dianne. “I didn’t expect (to raise enough), because it was a pretty lofty goal. It was over $10,000 for all the wreaths,” she said. “I thought maybe we should have started with one cemetery, but how do you pick between one or the other? So, we started out with both of them, and I really was amazed. Everyone we talked to, they were all on board. And I hope it is a tradition here now. I hope other Legion posts get involved. And I hope it grows.”

Greg said the fundraising aspect of the effort “was kind of fun. We went to the different businesses, Home Depot and local businesses in town, and asked them for donations. I was amazed how many people would just hand you stuff. My wife walked into one department store in town, and they handed her a Yeti (thermal container) off the shelf and said, ‘This would be great for you guys to auction off.’

“We’ve done local radio trying to get them involved and let them know what we were doing. It seemed like no one knew when we said ‘Wreaths Across America” what that was in this area.”

Greg said he participates in Wreaths Across America as a way to teach the younger generation about sacrifice. “It matters to me. I’m a veteran – 11 years in the Air Force,” he said. “It matters to me how we teach our children why we’re here. How we got here. I think our kids … don’t know what freedom is. It’s a given that this is just what it is.”

And for Dianne, Wreaths Across America reminds her of a family member who also felt a strong need to remember his fellow veterans.

“My father is a veteran,” Dianne said. “He was the post commander in Montgomery, Mich. He’s gone now. He was really big in fundraising for the (National) World War II Memorial. I just thought that this was something my dad would do. It’s basically honoring my dad.”