Taps

Veterans honored during national wreath program

Members of the Romulus VFW and Mayor Bob McCraight
participate in the national Wreaths Across America program
at Romulus cemetery.

Romulus Memorial Cemetery was one of more than 3,136 sites to honor veterans with memorial flags during the holiday season.

Members of the Romulus Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) 9568 marked the graves of fallen servicemen and women on Saturday, Dec. 18 as part of the national Wreaths Across America. Volunteers and spectators laid wreaths on the graves of fallen heroes.

National Wreaths Across America Day remembered national heroes as each veteran's name was said aloud and more than 525 truckloads of wreaths were delivered across the country. More than 2 million volunteers, a third of whom were children, helped placed more than 2.4 million veterans' wreaths on headstones across the country. 

 At Arlington National Cemetery specifically, the Wreaths Across America program saw 66 tractor trailers deliver 250,000 wreaths placed by nearly 38,000 volunteers. This was the 30th year that veterans' wreaths have been placed there, a tradition started by Maine wreathmaker Morrill Worcester as a gift of thanks. Morrill once again made the trek to Arlington this year to place wreaths as he has each December since 1992. 

“When I brought down those 5,000 wreaths that first year, I just thought it was a way for me to say thank you, for what we have in this country,” said Worcester, founder of Wreaths Across America. “I could have never imagined it would strike a chord like it has and make such an impact. Me and my family continued to be humbled by the support this program receives across the country.”

 Each live, balsam wreath was a gift of respect and appreciation, sponsored by an individual or organization and placed on a headstone by volunteers as a small gesture of gratitude for the freedoms Americans enjoy. For centuries, fresh evergreens have been used as a symbol of honor and have served as a living tribute renewed annually. Wreaths Across America believes the tradition represents a living memorial that honors veterans, active-duty military, and their families. When each wreath is placed the servicemember's name is said out loud, ensuring their memory lives on. 

 For more information, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Next year's National Wreaths Across America Day will take place on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.