Wreaths Across America day, Holly Mich.

Photo By Staff Sgt. Bob Yarbrough | Volunteers, friends, and family members gather at the Veterans Affairs National Cemetery in Holly, Mich. on December 14th, 2019 in order to observe National Wreaths Across America Day, where each Veteran grave receives a wreath for the holidays.  

HOLLY, MI, UNITED STATES

12.14.2019

Story by Sgt. Bob Yarbrough 

220th Public Affairs Detachment

Each December, volunteers gather at cemeteries across the nation in order to lay a wreath on the grave of every service member. National Wreaths Across America day was December 14th, and the Veteran's Affairs National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan was packed with volunteers, family members, and friends.

A ceremony kicked off the event, in which the keynote speaker, U.S. Air Force Veteran and retired Clarkston Police Chief Dale Lacroix described the symbolism of the wreath.

"The evergreens remind us of longevity and endurace, the red bow is for great sacrifice, the forest scent for purity and simplicity, and the circular shape for eternity."

Lacroix went on to state that each wreath is made up of ten balsam boughs, that represent ten special quialities that veterans embody.

"The first represents beleif in a greater good, the second represents their love for each other, the third represents the strength, work effort and characheter, the fourth represents a servicemans's honesty and integrity, the fifth represents humanity, selflessness, and modesty, the sixth represents visions and aspirations, the seventh represents optimism for america, the eighth represents concerns for our future, the ninth represents the pride in their duties, the tenth represents hopes and dreams that didn't come true, but left them with no regrets.

Following the ceremony, family members of Veterans buried at the cemetery were given the first wreaths to plaec on their fallen Veteran's grave. Then other volunteers lined up to receive wreaths and place them on each grave, and to speak the Veteran's name out loud.

Helen Budd, Program Manager at the Student Veterans Resource Centerfor the University of Michigan - Flint, attended the event along with some of the SVRC's work-study students and a new student veteran. "This is an opportunity for us to do some community service, pay respect to our fallen heroes, and celebrate their sacrifices."

Budd said the event was something she'd like to keep doing. "This is a national event that is very significant, and we wanted to be a part of it and show our respect as a group.This is actually the first year [the SVRC participated], but our plan is to make it annual."

In total over 1400 wreaths were laid on the graves of fallen Veterans at the Holly V.A. Cemetery, one of more that 1600 locations that the Wreaths Across America Program sponsors. For more information on how to volunteer or sponsor a wreath, check out wreathsacrossamerica.org.

• Date Taken: 12.14.2019
• Date Posted: 01.12.2020 22:34
• Story ID: 355838
• Location: HOLLY, MI, US