ROWLEY – It is not just the season for joy, but one to honor those who have served with a national wreath-laying ceremony. On the North Shore, volunteers will gather at the Rowley Burial Ground. on Saturday, December 14, at 10 a.m.
Wreaths Across America, a national organization with a North Shore chapter in Rowley, honors fallen veterans who gave their lives to protect the nation’s ideals of Freedom, Justice and quality.
In its opening remarks, the Wreaths Across America will say, “There are many men and women serving today in all branches of the military, here at home and in places far away, that most of us have never heard of. These men and women are part of the best-trained, best-equipped force in the world. We honor them and their families for the sacrifices they make each day to keep our country safe from terrorism, hatred, and injustice.”
It quoted President Ronald Reagan, saying: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States, where men were free.”
Ron and Tammy Garron, auxiliary members of the Rowley Veterans Committee, are the town coordinators for Wreaths Across America.
Wreaths Across America invites all to show a united front of gratitude and respect across the country to remember the fallen and honor those who serve and their families.’
Supporters sponsored the wreaths at a cost of $17 each. For more information, visit wreathsacrossamerica.com.
Opening Remarks:
Thank you all for joining us here today. This year, across the country at 1000s of participating locations like this one, there are millions of Americans gathering safely as one nation to Remember, Honor and Teach. We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people, from many walks of life. The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear. We can worship as we see fit. We can raise our children to believe as we do. We are free to vote for the leaders of our choosing. And, we have the right to succeed, and we have the right to fail at whatever endeavor we wish to pursue.
The United States of America was founded on the ideals of Freedom, Justice, and Equality. 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, and we shall not forget you. We shall remember. (Short Pause)
Today, more than ever, we reflect on our nation’s veterans and active duty service members who have had and continue to fight to protect the innocent and oppressed. This nation has always been the first to stand up for the freedom of people from around the world. Many of you here today have answered that call and served your country well. For this, we say, “Thank you,” and we are honored to know you.
Quoting our 40th United States President Ronald Reagan (short pause), “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States, where men were free.”
Today, we show a united front of gratitude and respect across the United States of America as we REMEMBER the Fallen, HONOR those who serve and their families, and TEACH the next generation the value of freedom.
Wreaths Across America began with a single act, when Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Me., had a surplus of wreaths after Christmas. As as a 12-year-old paper boy when he won a trip to Washington D.C., he saw the thousands of graves at Arlington National Cemetery. He donated those extra wreaths and with the help of a trucking company and now-retired U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe from Maine, those wreaths were placed on an older section of the cemetery.
A decade later, a photo of the green wreaths with red ribbons went viral on the Internet. Volunteers wanted to honor fallen veterans in local cemeteries around the country. Today, more 2 million volunteers and supporters gather at 4,600 locations in 50 states, including Rowley Burial Ground, to participate in honoring, remembering and teaching about the sacrifices these veterans made. ♦
