Wreaths for the Fallen

They came by the dozens, the young and not so young, those who have served in the nation’s military, those who are serving in the nation’s military, and those who have never worn the uniform — to Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle on Saturday.
Bundled up against the December chill, they talked and laughed among themselves, swapping stories of what they have left to do to prepare for the holiday season, until they were handed a pine wreath adorned with a red bow by a member of the Fredericksburg Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.
Then, as they walked individually or in pairs to the gravesites which line the cemetery’s gently rolling hills, a silence fell.
Knees bent in front of 1,200 white gravestones, hands reached out to touch the marble, and silent prayers were no doubt said as the fragrantly smelling pine wreaths were reverently laid as part of the Wreaths Across America campaign.
“We started doing this about six years ago,” said CAP 1st Lt. Doug Clark. “The first year there was just us. Its grown. This is about remembering.”
In addition to the CAP cadets, Manassas Young Marines, representatives from area veterans organizations, and family and friends of those who are laid to rest in the cemetery also assisted in placing the wreaths.
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that was formed as an extension of the Arlington Wreath Project. Morrill Worchester began the Arlington project in 1992 by laying 5,000 wreaths at the national cemetery there.
The effort received national attention in 2005 and has been emulated at both national cemeteries like Quantico and state cemeteries around the country. Wreaths are laid annually on the second Saturday of December.
According to the Wreaths Across America Web site, over 300 locations held wreath laying ceremonies last year in each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. More than 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans graves graves by 60,000 volunteers.
In 2008, around 430 wreaths were placed on gravesites at Quantico.
“Wreaths Across America has given me so much, to be connected to others through their service,” said Maria Leon Guerrero, who coordinates the local wreath placing effort.
Noting that the mission of Wreaths Across America is to remember, honor and teach, Leon Guerrero said she feels blessed to take part in the remembrance.
“The privilege of being a part of this is an opportunity to be outside of yourself,” she added.
Leon Guerrero said it takes a coordinated effort to obtain sponsors for each wreath and then to get the wreaths to where they need to go so they can then be placed on gravesites.
Wreaths can be sponsored individually for $15. A four wreath sponsorship is $60; a 10-wreath sponsorship is $150; and a 100-wreath sponsorship is $1,500.
Sponsorships can be made via the Wreaths Across America Web site at wreaths acrossamerica.org.
Volunteer truckers donate their big rigs, time, and gas to transport the wreaths to each participating location. Leon Guerrero said the Quantico wreaths arrived on Wednesday and were stored until Saturday morning, when cemetery staff moved them to the pickup and distribution location.
Valerie Nealey, president of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 7589 in Manassas, said her group sold wreath sponsorships which helped to benefit the post’s veterans relief fund. Five dollars from every wreath purchase went into the fund.
Military editor Julia LeDoux can be reached at 703-369-5718