Daleville to hold second ‘Wreaths Across America’ Dec. 18

A second Wreaths Across America in Daleville is planned for Saturday, Dec. 18, and the public is invited.

The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. at Daleville Memorial Gardens on Highway 84 in Daleville, organizer Travis Parker told those attending the Daleville City Council meeting Dec. 7.

The purpose of Wreaths Across America is to place Christmas wreaths on graves of veterans. “There are some 225 veterans in Daleville Memorial Gardens,” Parker said.

At last year’s inaugural Wreaths Across America Ceremony in Daleville eight ceremonial wreaths 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 were placed on memorials during this ceremony that was coordinated simultaneously at over 1,000 participating locations all around the world,” Parker said. “Last year it was 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.’”

Wreaths Across America began in 1992 when the owner of a wreath company had some extra wreaths, Parker explained. “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.

“When the local Wreaths Across America started in 2015, my goal was to have honor wreaths placed on all veterans’ graves at cemeteries throughout the local area,” Parker said. “Last year we placed wreaths at almost two dozen cemeteries in Coffee and Dale Counties, including Daleville.”

Among the sponsors of the event, Parker said, are the Sons of the American Revolution, Daleville High School JROTC, the City of Daleville, the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Patriot Guard Riders, Coffee County Veterans and Clanton’s Battery, which provides the cannon honor salute and Taps.

In other business, Daleville City Councilmember Katheryn Horace commended Daleville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michelle Powell and those involved with organizing the Daleville Christmas Parade held Dec. 3. “I thought that it was wonderfully done. I’d especially like to thank (Daleville City Administrative Assistant) Kecia Dent for the efforts that she put into the city float and I’d also like to thank her personally for preparing me for the Christmas Tree lighting,” she said referring to the fact that Horace had served as mayor pro tem in the absence of the mayor during the parade and tree lighting ceremony. “Kecia gave a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ assistance to me.”

Councilmember Jo Reese told Horace that she “did an excellent job” in her capacity as mayor pro tem. “It was probably the best parade that we’ve had in a very long time.”

Reese said that one concern she had about the parade was that people in at least one parade entry threw candy out to the children along the parade route. The children were “diving out into the streets” to retrieve it, Reese said, adding that parade participants had been specifically asked not to throw candy from their float or parade vehicle. “That was very upsetting to me,” she added.

Councilman Alan Souders echoed the kudos of Horace and Reese, adding appreciation to the Daleville Department of Public Safety for their involvement in the event.

The next meeting of the Daleville City Council is Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Daleville City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.