Second Wreaths Across America Ceremony held in Daleville

Wind and rain didn’t daunt the spirits of those attending the second Wreaths Across America event held in Daleville at Daleville Memorial Gardens Dec. 18.

Daleville Mayor Jayme Stayton read a proclamation recognizing the importance of honoring the more than 200 veterans buried at the cemetery and Daleville High School JROTC Lt. Col. Cheyenne Monk opened the ceremony with a moment of silence “to remember the fallen, the prisoners of war, the missing in action and to honor those who have served and are serving this great nation’s armed services.

Daleville High School JROTC Cadets and representatives from Fort Rucker Girl Scout Troop 9052 conducted the ceremony during which nine evergreen wreaths decorated with red bows were placed to honor those in each branch of military service, prisoners of war, those still missing in action and for families of those killed in action before participants placed individual wreaths at the graves of veterans in the cemetery.

“These wreaths are being placed on memorials during this ceremony that was coordinated simultaneously at more than 2,700 participating locations all around the world,” event organizer and Wiregrass Sons of the American Revolution President Travis Parker said. “This year it is projected that well over 1.5 million wreaths were placed by more than 2,000,000 volunteers, almost one third of which are children because the purpose of this event is to ‘remember, honor and teach.’

“When the local Wreath Across America was started in 2015, my goal was to have honor wreaths placed on all veterans graves at locations throughout the local area,” Parker said. “This year, we placed wreaths at almost two dozen cemeteries to include Daleville, Enterprise, New Brockton and Elba.”

Wreaths Across America began in 1992 when the owner of a wreath company had some extra wreaths, said Parker. “He remembered a visit he had taken to Arlington National Cemetery when he was 12, so he placed the extra wreaths there—and this small act grew into an international event.”

“We gather at this memorial site and similar sites all over the world to remember that we are one nation under one flag,” said Sons of the American Revolution Vice President Bob Cooper. “We are all proud to be Americans who live in a free society made up of many people of many races from many walks of life.

“This year, across the country at more than 2,700 participating locations like this one there are millions of Americans gathering safely as one nation to remember, honor and teach,” he said.  “Our nation stands as a shining beacon of liberty and freedom to the world. We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free. We shall not forget you.”

The sponsors of the event are the Sons of the American Revolution, Woodmen Life, Daleville High School JROTC, the City of Daleville, the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce, Coffee County Veterans and Clanton’s Battery.