Wreaths Across America: Volunteers honor the legacy of local deceased veterans

by Mary Jo David

It was sunny but cold on Saturday, Dec. 14, as volunteers, bundled for the weather, gathered to distribute wreaths on veterans’ graves at Oaklawn Cemetery in Stockbridge. Oaklawn was one of 4,600 participating locations in Wreaths Across America Day, a national event for remembering the legacy of America’s deceased veterans.

In a short opening ceremony, Jim Grime, commander of American Legion Post 510 in Stockbridge, announced each of the service branches represented, with a wreath placed at the base of the memorial flagpole in the cemetery.

The following veterans were in attendance to place these symbolic wreaths.

• Army: AC Allen
• Marine Corps: Jerry Kunzelman
• Navy: Marty Bliss
• Air Force: Chris Carr

In addition, Jeral Whitaker laid a wreath at the flagpole to represent American prisoners of war and those missing in action (POW/MIA)

Following the ceremony, volunteers distributed a trailer full of wreaths, placing one at the gravestone or marker for each veteran interred in the cemetery.

Before setting out to distribute the wreaths, Grimes reminded the volunteers they were not there to “decorate the gravesites,” but rather to acknowledge and honor the commitment and sacrifice of each veteran in the cemetery. He encouraged volunteers to remember to speak the name of each veteran when placing a wreath.

All photos by Mary Jo David

Veteran salutes after placing a service branch wreath at the Oaklawn Cemetery’s memorial flagpole.

Commander Jim Grime (American Legion Post #510) addresses veterans who will be placing the service branch wreaths at the base of the cemetery’s memorial flagpole.

Service branch wreaths and a POW/MIA wreath now lay at the base of the cemetery’s flagpole.

Veteran and past Legion Post 510 commander Jerry Kunzelman directs volunteers before they set out to lay the wreaths.

Volunteers pull the wreaths from the trailer for distributing.

Volunteers spread out to distribute the memorial wreaths.

Sunshine and a light wind ensure flags were unfurled for this event honoring our veterans.

Folks of all ages were on hand to help distribute the wreaths.

Wreaths are perched against the grave markers of each veteran in the cemetery.

Volunteers treat each veteran’s grave with dignity and respect.

The sunshine didn’t fool volunteers who dressed warmly for the task at hand.

Another veteran remembered for his service.

Another volunteer doing her part to honor the legacy of deceased local veterans.

Wreaths now dot the landscape throughout the cemetery.

Thank you to our veterans and to all the volunteers who came out to pay tribute to the memory of each of our local deceased veterans.