N.J. post honors 1,500 veterans at its first Wreaths Across America

American Legion members and community volunteers pulled off a successful first Wreaths Across America (WAA) event Dec. 19, honoring around 1,500 veterans.

“This is our way of honoring them for giving the ultimate sacrifice,” said Andrea Cahill-Adair, commander of Stevenson-D'Alessio Post 12 in Somerville, N.J. “We don’t know what we would be doing at this point on our lives. Without these people paving the way, we would not be here.”

The ceremony was among thousands taking place as part of the national WAA event. For Cahill-Adair, it was a special way to pay tribute to her fallen comrades.

“I feel honored,” said Cahill-Adair, who served in the Army for 21 years. “It’s an honor for me to say thank you to them.”

Post 12 worked with the local Elks Club, National Honor Society members and other community groups to bring the event to fruition. Next month, volunteers will return to clean up the cemetery.

“We can’t do enough to honor our veterans, “ said Bill Rose, member of the Somerville Elks Club. “I stand here today because of their sacrifice.”

After a ceremony, Rose, who was a merchant mariner, and other volunteers grabbed a wreath, picked out a grave, laid the wreath and said the veteran’s name.

For New Jersey Department Commander Robert Newell, it was his first time participating in a WAA event.

“It fills me with a lot of pride that I could do this for them,” he said of the veterans. “Their families may not be around to place something on their graves, especially at this time of the year, Christmastime. This is a way to show respect and due diligence to their memory.”

As participants like Cahill-Adair, Rose and Newell solemnly laid a wreath, they reflected on the deeper meaning.

“These people gave their lives for this country,” Newell said. “We owe it to them to pay our respects because without them we don’t know what we would be as a nation. They gave their lives so that we could remain free.”

Karen Kramer of nearby Branchburg was among the community members participating. Her father was a Navy veteran who fought at Iwo Jima. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

“I wish I could go there today but this means a lot to me, to help these veterans,” Kramer said. “They had to risk their lives so that others could live. An hour out of my day to pay respects to someone who lost their life means a lot.”

Thankfully a midweek nor’easter did not derail plans for the initial event. Neither did the rise in the number of coronavirus cases.

“It was a lot of work and sometimes you wonder if it is going to come together,” Cahill-Adair said. “Today, it all fell into place. Just like soldiers falling into place.”