The tradition of laying wreaths on the graves of veterans began twenty years ago and has grown into a national event with nearly two million wreaths laid annually in over 3,000 burial sites.
This year was especially poignant for me as it was the first year I was able to participate and it fell on the anniversary of my older brother Billy's death. Both my father and my brother are laid to rest at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia. My father was a Viet Nam veteran that gave his entire adult life in service to the US Army, serving twenty years in the Army followed by twenty years of civil service, also for the US Army. My father, died at the age of sixty, his death resulting complications stemming from exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Viet Nam.
The wreaths laid at the cemetery in Suffolk are provided thanks to the tireless efforts of the Horton Wreath Society (HWS, a local nonprofit organization that works year round in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services in an effort to raise the funds to pay for the wreaths and orchestrate the event. HWS offers a unique opportunity to the families of those entered at the cemetery in that families are themselves given the opportunity to lay wreaths on their family graves. Families that wish to personally lay their wreaths are designated as "Red Flag Families", the name coming from the red flag that is placed at the graves to indicate the family will be placing the wreath. Red Flag Families may choose to visit the cemetery on the Friday before the ceremony to place their wreaths, or they may place them on Saturday following the ceremony. I was so grateful for the opportunity to lay the wreaths on my family graves Friday, it gave me the chance to visit and spend a quiet time of reflection without the distraction of volunteers laying wreaths nearby.
Our ceremony was MC'd by Mike Gooding, senior military reporter from WVEC Channel 13, whose father was a former Naval Air Station Oceana pilot who went on to great glory in Vietnam. There were also appearances made by Suffolk Mayor, Mike Duman and Representative-Elect Jen Kiggans. The opening prayer was given by Chaplain Londono H. Diego, Lieutenant Commander, Navy, followed by a poem read by Kelly Armon, the public relations officer for Horton Wreath Society.
Jason Redmon, a retired Navy Seal, spoke of the importance of remembering our veterans and living lives worthy of their sacrifices. Jason Redman, a retired Navy Seal, earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Navy Achievement Medals and two Combat Action Ribbons.
We also heard from Winsome Earle-Sears,
she is the first female Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the first black female elected to statewide office. She spoke to the magnitude of efforts to bring the wreath laying event to fruition. 12,700 wreaths were laid by around 2,000 volunteers. Each year, approximately 1,000 veterans are interred at the cemetery, meaning the need will continue to grow year over year.
Our ceremony was closed with a wreath laid in honor of those from each branch of service, followed by the playing of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.
If you have the financial means to do so, please consider supporting the Horton Wreath Society. With 12,700 wreaths being laid this year, and each wreath costing $10, the wreaths alone cost $127,000. The Horton Wreath Society is a registered Non-Profit Charitable Organization, meaning all donations are tax deductible. If you would like to participate or make a donation in support of the wreath laying next year, please visit the HWS website. Thank you for giving me your time, have a wonderful Christmas.
PHOTO GALLERY
Comments