BREMERTON, Wash. – More than 50 service members teamed up with volunteers and more than 30 other organizations to lay wreaths on the gravestones of veterans in recognition of the 27th annual Wreaths Across America Day at Ivy Green Cemetery in Bremerton, Wash., Dec. 15.
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery that began in 1992. The mission of "Remember, Honor, Teach" is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies on a specified Saturday in December at Arlington, as well as veterans' cemeteries in all 50 states and beyond, to remember America's fallen heroes, honor those who serve, and teach children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.
“We are gathered here today at this memorial site, and at memorial sites all across America, to remember that we are one nation with one flag,” said master of ceremonies and retired senior chief petty officer Mick Hersey. “We are laying these wreaths today to ensure that [our veterans] are remembered not just today, but every day. Today we join with others in more than 1,600 cemeteries across the United States to place 1.8 million wreaths in honor of those who served.”
The laying of the ceremonial wreaths at all locations coincides with the laying of the ceremonial wreath upon the "Tomb of the Unknowns" at Arlington National Cemetery, also called the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier", with every location holding a moment of silence together in remembrance of those who were lost.
“As we gather this morning, we’re but one of the thousands of similar remembrances taking place throughout the country. Our gathering here is to commemorate the sacrifices of those wearing the uniform, and of their families, in defense of our sacred freedoms that we enjoy every day,” said Capt. Alan Schrader, commanding officer of Naval Base Kitsap and the keynote speaker of the ceremony. “Thanks to the men and women that we are here to honor today, our nation remains one where we are all created equal and share in the same rights and freedoms.”
During the ceremony, a service member from each branch of the U.S. armed forces carried a wreath, decorated with a red bow, to the cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument, and rendered a salute. Afterward, wreaths were placed at the headstones of veterans interred across the cemetery.
“We honor those we lost and those who were ever affected by injury, either mental or physical,” said Schrader. “We are a stronger nation and a stronger united people because of [our veterans].”
Ivy Green Cemetery has a large military section, honoring fallen men and women of all services. Of the 4,000 gravesites in Ivy Green Cemetery, more than 550 are veterans. This year marks the 7th year that Ivy Green Cemetery has participated in Wreaths Across America.