Honor those who served: The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies participates in Wreaths Across America

The green wreaths with the red bows were more than just holiday decorations.

They were placed near the white crosses as a way to honor those buried there.

For the 14th consecutive year, National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil hosted a wreath-laying ceremony, joining more than 4,000 other participating locations across the country for National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 16.

Courtesy of Wreaths Across America/National Cemetery of the Alleghenies

For the 14th consecutive year, National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil hosted a wreath-laying ceremony, joining more than 4,000 other locations across the country for National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 16.

It was a beautiful sunny unseasonably warm day.

“This annual event seeks to further the mission to ‘Remember, Honor, Teach,’ ensuring that the memory of those who served our country endures,” said Brynnly Schwartz, Wreaths Across America local volunteer coordinator for the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, an official Wreaths Across America location.

Volunteers helped place the 16,200 wreaths against the headstones of fallen service members.

Groups and individuals raised funds for the wreaths throughout the year. She said the turnout was wonderful.

“We got so lucky with the weather,” Schwartz said.”There are so many people who are passionate about this mission. The community has been fantastic.”

Courtesy of Wreaths Across America/National Cemetery of the Alleghenies

Volunteers help unload wreaths that were then placed on veterans’ graves at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil.

There were 80 volunteers who unloaded three truck loads — 1,350 boxes of live Balsam wreaths that came from Maine — leading up to the event.

Prior to the wreath placement there was a ceremony.

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992.

The organization’s yearlong mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out by coordinating these ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as in locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad with more than 2 million volunteers.

During the ceremony, wreaths are displayed representing each branch of the service — Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, Merchant Marine – as well as POW/MIA.

Courtesy of Pennsylvania Senator Camera Bartolotta’s staff

Graves at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil are decorated with wreaths as part of National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 16.

At the National Cemeteries of the Alleghenies, Pennsylvania Senator Camera Bartolotta was in attendance as well as the Civil Air Patrol, Washington County Composite Squadron 601, Allegheny County Composite Squadron 602, Golden Triangle Composite Squadron 603, Beaver County Composite Squadron 704, Washington County Young Marines and U.S Naval Sea Cadet Corps - Pittsburgh Battalion.

Bagpiper Ken Kretchun played “Amazing Grace.” There were veterans, active service members, families with loved ones laid to rest at the cemetery, and community members in attendance.

The cemetery encompasses 292 acres. It opened in 2005.

The wreaths were scheduled to be removed in Jan. 20 to cleanse the cemetery and allow families to place flowers or hearts for Valentine’s Day and other occasions. The cemetery also has ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

There is a sustainable aspect to this project, Schwartz said.

Some wreaths will be donated to farmers and wildlife rehabilitation centers as a way to repurpose them. The remainder of the wreaths will be recycled and composted by Michael Brothers Companies, based in Baldwin, which has been part of the event for more than five years.

Boyd Jones, business support manager for Michael Brothers, said company owners Tom and Rob Milani, whose father, Stephen, purchased the company 50 years ago, donated employees’ time and the vehicles, including lead driver Tim Balog who makes sure dumpsters arrive on time and are removed after being filled.

The event has an extra special meaning because members of Jones’ and his colleagues’ families are buried there.

“It holds a special place in our hearts,” Jones said. “To be a part of this event honoring veterans is a way to give back to those who gave so much.”

The need is growing with more and more funerals held daily — an average of seven to 10 per day, Schwartz said. They are always looking for more people and organizations to host fundraisers to pay for wreaths of remembrance, said Schwartz.

The holidays can be a difficult time of the year for families who are missing a loved one, Schwartz said.

Each wreath costs $17 to sponsor. The next Wreaths Across America Day is Dec. 14, 2024.

“When volunteers place the wreaths on the graves, we ask them to say the names out loud and to take a moment to reflect on their sacrifice,” Schwartz said. “And note what branch of the service they were in. It’s a way to keep these veterans’ memories alive.”

For more information, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.