Throughout the nation, the American Legion Family either sponsored or took part in the annual event to honor deceased veterans.
On Dec. 17, volunteers across the nation honored veterans, placing around 2.7 million wreaths on the gravesites of veterans during Wreaths Across America (WAA) events. And at the forefront of many of those events were American Legion Family members.
Whether sponsoring the events themselves or providing support for others, posts, Auxiliary units, Sons of The American Legion squadrons and Legion Riders headed to thousands of locations across the country to honor their fellow veterans. That includes an effort in South Carolina that has seen the amount of wreaths placed from 200 to 4,000 in just six years, as well as an inaugural WAA event in Michigan that saw more than 1,000 wreaths placed at two cemeteries.
The following are just a few more examples of Legion Family members taking part in WAA events nationwide. Those who participated in Wreaths Across America are urged to share their photos and stories at www.legiontown.org.
Alaska
In Juneau, Auke Bay American Legion Post 25 teamed with the Daughters of the American Revolution to place wreaths at Alaska Memorial Park.
California
In San Luis Obispo, members of American Legion Post 66 took part in the WAA event at San Luis Cemetery. More than 1,000 wreaths were placed during the effort.
“Not that it’s something that you just go out and throw a wreath on someone’s tombstone; you place it with reverence, and to mark the importance of them being there, and their fight for us and the freedom we have now," Post 66 Commander Yvonne Hampton told KSBY.
Colorado
In Evergreen, American Legion Post 2001 and the Evergreen Elks Lodge teamed up to lead an effort that placed wreaths on more than 200 graves at Evergreen Memorial Park and about 80 graves at Bear Creek Cemetery. Prior to placing the wreaths on the gravesites, members of Post 2001 placed wreaths representing each of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as U.S. prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Before laying the wreaths, members of The American Legion hung wreaths to represent the different branches of the military and one wreath to represent the 93,000 soldiers who are still missing in action or prisoners of war.
Idaho
In Rathdrum, snow didn’t deter members of American Legion Post 154 from conducting a WAA ceremony before placing nearly 270 wreaths at Pinegrove Cemetery. Post 154 coordinated the effort, which included Boy Scouts and others assisting in placing the wreaths.
"That is why we are here today — to remember, honor and teach with this wreath-laying ceremony," Post 154 Commander Dee Sasse said during the ceremony. "The Wreaths Across America program is to show our veterans and their families that we will not forget — we will never forget. There are many ways we remember and honor our veterans and teach the next generation to do the same. One way is to lay a wreath at every veteran's grave."
Post 154 Service Officer Ruth Aresvik participated in the ceremony, placing a U.S. Merchant Marines wreath on the Rathdrum Veterans Memorial. "It's definitely an honor and a privilege to be able to be a part of this, no matter what the weather," she said. "We have a great turnout; the community supports us. It's just a real special feeling to be able to honor the veterans that are no longer with us. By laying that wreath and saying their name, we give them life. They continue to be with us."
Iowa
In Ames, American Legion Riders Chapter 37 fundraised to place more than 1,800 wreaths at Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Missouri
American Legion Post 297 raised $10,000 to bring Wreaths Across America to Union for the first time. Volunteers placed the wreaths on 500 gravesites across Union City Cemetery, Chiles Cemetery, Immaculate Conception Cemetery, St. Paul's Cemetery and Zion Cemetery. A ceremony also took place at Post 297.
Ohio
In North Kingsville, Neal American Legion Post 743 collaborated with local Sons and Daughters of the American Legion chapters to place more than 850 wreaths at Greenlawn Memory Gardens.
“The American Legion is a service organization, and this is one way we get to support our community and our veterans,” Post 743 Adjutant Will Runyan told the Star Beacon.
Oklahoma
· In Sand Springs, Billie A. Hall American Legion Post 17 and its Auxiliary unit led a Wreaths Across America effort that covered around 300 veterans’ graves at Woodland Memorial Park. It was the second year Post 17 has coordinated the effort, this year almost tripling the number of wreaths in placed in 2021.
· In Broken Arrow, American Legion Post 110 took part in the wreath laying ceremony at Park Grove Cemetery. “The American Legion here in Broken Arrow comes out here on Memorial Day and places flags, but there’s been a need where during the holiday season, especially as you come towards Christmas, there’s like, it’s almost like the veterans are forgotten,” Post 110 Adjutant Brian Quinn said during the ceremony. “(The WAA ceremony) lets people know about the freedoms that they have, and that the veterans have fought for and that’s why it’s important to me and all the other veterans that are here.”
Wyoming
In Rock Springs, members of Archie Hay American Legion Post 24 joined with the community to lay wreaths at Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery, Riverview Cemetery in Green River and Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Rock Springs.
“We are here to honor those who have served and their families; to teach the next generation the value of freedom,” Post 24 Commander Ted Young said during the ceremony at Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery. “The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying here before us in cemeteries across this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom without fear. We can worship as we see fit. We raise our children to believe as we do.
“We are free to vote for the leaders of our choosing. We have the right to succeed, and we have the right to fail in whatever endeavor we wish to pursue. The United States of America was founded on the ideals of freedom, justice and equality. Our nation stands as a shining beacon of freedom and liberty to the world. We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free.”
- Honor