Wreaths Across America event was Saturday

On Saturday, hundreds turned out to honor the fallen veterans at Woodland Cemetery as part of the long-running Wreaths Across America event.

And, although December weather in southern Ohio can be too wet, too cold or too snowy, Saturday was pleasant enough with temperatures in the mid-40s.

“This is a nice day,” said Laura Brown, one of the coordinators of the Lawrence County Wreaths Across America.

The wreaths are bought with donations from the community and area businesses and Brown said they were generous this year.

“It was great, we were able to get enough donations for wreaths on every veteran’s grave on Veterans Hill and the Civil war section,” she said. “It is thanks to our donors. And everyone that helps with this, it is not just one person, it is a whole team.”

And part of the team is young people dressed in fatigues, all members of the Marine Corps Junior ROTC from Greenup High School.

Their commander, Capt. Dennis Rice, said he has lost count of how many times they have attended the event in Lawrence County.

“We have come out every year that I can remember, not during COVID-19, but for at least the last 10 years,” he said, adding they pride ourselves on doing community service, teaching them volunteerism, civic service, patriotism and responsibility. And I have some great kids. I can put down that I need 20 kids for Saturday and they will sign up not even knowing what they are going to do. They have big hearts and it really warms my heart to see them come out and do this civic service.”

Sally Markle Ingles, another of the event organizers, said although the event is a lot of work, she doesn’t mind because “these are a lot of veterans here and they gave their lives and their time and their service for our freedom. I am a veteran and I believe that we should honor all veterans, past and present.”

“This just humbles my heart to be able to do this for our small town,” she continued. “And we are getting bigger and bigger every year. Our community really supports us.”

Wreaths Across America started in 1992 with the goal of laying a wreath on every grave in Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Since then, the goal has become to lay a wreath on every veteran’s grave across the U.S.

The tradition started in Lawrence County in 2012 after local organizers Juanita Southers and Linda Dalton saw the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Arlington Cemetery.

Last year, Laura Brown and her sister, Sally Ingles, took over coordinating the event from Dalton and Southers, who passed away in July 2019.