Wreaths Across America honors those who served
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Members of the Patriot Guard walked around to hand out wreathes to the volunteers placing them on graves at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
Members of the Patriot Guard stand with flags during the Wreathes Across America Ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Volunteers place wreathes upon graves at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies during the Wreathes Across America ceremony.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Wreathes decorate graves at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Members of the Steelers organization are introduced during the Wreathes Across America ceremony at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
Volunteers place wreathes upon graves at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies during the Wreathes Across America ceremony
State Senator Camera Bartolotta speaks at the Wreathes Across America Ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
People spread out over the entire cemetery to place a wreath on a grave at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Wreathes representing every branch of the military are placed during a ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
Wreathes from every branch of the military plus a MIA/POW wreath are presented during the Wreathes Across the America ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
CECIL – To get an idea how Wreaths Across America has grown, consider the traffic leading to the annual holiday-season event at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
The first time there was a wreath-laying ceremony on the white stones at the burial ground for veterans and their families, a relatively small but dedicated group of friends, families and volunteers turned out. On Saturday, however, traffic on Morganza Road just outside the cemetery was gridlocked to levels usually associated with Pittsburgh Steelers games.
This was appropriate, in a sense, since beloved former Steelers were on hand, including Rocky Bleier and Franco Harris, for the noontime ceremony marking the launch of Wreaths Across America. Now in its 10th year, wreaths were laid at the stones of veterans at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C., and in more than 1,000 other locations across the country. Perhaps owing to the frigid temperatures, just about every grave in the cemetery seemed to have a green wreath with a red bow on it in no time.
Denise Culbertson of Amity, along with her husband, Russ, were there. Between the two of them, they have several family members buried at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, including a son who was killed in Iraq. Longtime participants in Wreaths Across America, Denise said she starts raising money for the cause around March, “then we come up here in December.”
The roots of Wreaths Across America reach to 1992. A quarter-century ago, Morrill Worcester, owner of a wreath company in Maine, had 5,000 surplus holiday wreaths in stock, and decided to put them on the stones of veterans interred in Arlington National Cemetery. It became an annual part of the holiday season for Worcester, and photos of wreaths adorning the stones attracted attention on the internet. Ten years ago, the drive was officially named Wreaths Across America, with Congress giving it its stamp of approval the following year.
Scott and Anne Schafer of Canonsburg also came to the cemetery, with Scott characterizing Wreaths Across America as “a blessing.”
“People understand what it means to be buried here and serve our country,” he said.
The former Steelers were present because of a $20,000 donation the team’s organization made to Wreaths Across America, ensuring all the veterans buried at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies will receive wreaths on their graves.
Betty Jo Grimes, a Morgantown, W.Va., resident, made the 50-mile trip because her grandson was participating in the ceremony before the laying of the wreaths.
“It instills patriotism and respect for our country,” she said.