Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, December 13, was observed at Mendenhall Cemetery with families, friends and volunteers in attendance.
National Wreaths Across America Day is a yearly coordinated wreath-laying effort at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., as well as at cemeteries in all 50 states and abroad.
This is the eighth year that the Mendenhall Cemetery has participated as an official location.
Rev. Richard Rankin delivered a message that paid tribute to the nation’s service members and their families. He explained that this year’s theme, “Keep Moving Forward,” was inspired by the last words of Captain Joshua Byers, United States Army, KIA, in Fallujah, Iraq, on July 23, 2003.
Joshua Byers was the Company Commander of Fox Troop in the 2/3ACR service in Iraq in 2003 when an IED struck his Humvee. As the smoke filled the air, Josh gave his driver a last command: “…keep moving forward.” Though Josh didn’t make it home, this command saved lives and became a battle cry for his unit and family.
Rankin shared words from Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America, who said, “There will always be challenges to overcome as individuals, communities and a country, but we must keep moving forward together. This year, we will share not only the Byers’ story of resilience but also the stories of many others who continue to live with purpose every day and have chosen to keep moving forward.”
Rankin reminded the attendees to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families, and to teach the next generation the value of freedom. Following the message, “Taps” was performed on trumpet by Ross Walton.
After the ceremony, families were first to visit gravesites and pay tribute to their veteran by placing a wreath. Volunteers followed and placed wreaths at other veteran’s headstones throughout the cemetery.
Wreaths were sponsored for placement on 276 headstones of the 341 military heroes laid to rest in the cemetery. The cemetery’s goal each year is to place a wreath at the headstone of every veteran who has been laid to rest in the cemetery. Each live, fresh, balsam wreath with a red ribbon is a gift of respect and appreciation, donated by a family member, local citizen, business or organization.
This year’s National Wreaths Across America Day took place at 5,598 participating locations nationwide. Millions of volunteers remembered the nation’s heroes with the placement of over 3.1 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths.
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond
