MAINE and Greenville, Ohio — Dec 2, 2018 — Each year, millions of Americans come together to REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those that serve and their families, and TEACH the next generation about the value of freedom. This gathering of individuals and communities takes place in local and national cemeteries in all 50 states as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. Locally, Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR will be coordinating Wreaths Across America at the Greenville Union Cemetery on December 15th at noon. Each year, a new theme is chosen to assist local supporters focus the message and outreach in the community. Today, the national office of Wreaths Across America announced the theme for 2018 is “Be their witness.”
The inspiration for this year’s theme stems from the 2009 drama “Taking Chance,” which was based on the experiences of U.S. Marine Lt. Colonel Michael Strobl, who escorted the body of a fallen Marine, PFC Chance Phelps back to his hometown in Wyoming from the Iraq War.
“I was deeply impacted by this story and found it difficult at times to fathom the burden this young man carried in his task. Lt. Col. Strobl volunteered to be a witness for PFC Phelps, and as the movie so eloquently states, he is now responsible in no small part for PFC Phelps’s legacy,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “Through the Wreaths Across America program, we are ensuring that the lives of our men and women in uniform are remembered, not their deaths. It is our responsibility as Americans, to be their witness and to share their stories of service and sacrifice with the next generation.”
Fort GreeneVille Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and the Greenville Union Cemetery would like to invite everyone to the Wreaths Across America event. This is the first year that the cemetery is having this honorable event and planning for many years to come.
The local ceremony will begin at noon at the Greenville Union Cemetery mausoleum and Soldiers section. Local Veterans will be representing their branches of service: Chris Rehmert-Army, Charles Shields-Marine, Elaine Harter-Air Force, Kevin Shuttleworth-Coast Guard, Dean Delk-Navy, Stephen Eldred-Merchant Marines, along with Starranne Wise, Army, playing taps.
National Wreaths Across America Day, will take place this year on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. At Greenville Union Cemetery, the event will be at noon and more information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/fortgreenevilledar/.
In 2017, more than 1.5 million veteran wreaths were placed on headstones at 1,422 participating cemeteries around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms, with each name said out loud.
National Wreaths Across America Day is a free event and open to all people. For more information on Wreaths Across America, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
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