Wreaths and remembrance

BUXTON – In an observance taking place the same day as one at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, evergreen wreaths will be placed Saturday on graves of veterans in the South Buxton Cemetery.

The sixth annual Buxton ceremony featuring music, a gun salute, prayer, and playing of “Taps” is held in conjunction with Wreaths Across America.

“I find it very emotional,” Richard “Sandy” Atkinson, president of the South Buxton Cemetery Association, said Tuesday. “I see a lot of tears.”

Buxton is one of 750 locations participating in a Wreaths Across America ceremony. A convoy of truckers from Maine on Saturday will unload thousands of wreaths from Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington at Arlington National Cemetery. Each year since 1992, thousands of wreaths from the Washington County town have been delivered to Washington, D.C.

A load of wreaths will be delivered to the Buxton cemetery this week.

Atkinson was at the cemetery on Tuesday finalizing observance plans with association board member Chad Poitras and cemetery superintendent Jeffrey Grover of Limington.

Atkinson said the theme of the Buxton observance is “remember, honor, and teach.” While honoring the veterans, Atkinson hopes to reach out in a teaching component of the ceremony.

“We need to get the younger people involved,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson said the cemetery contains graves of 480 veterans. The veterans buried there include those as long ago as “1776, War of 1812, Civil War,” Atkinson said.

In addition to veterans’ graves, Grover pointed out cemetery monuments for children’s author Kate Douglas Wiggin and Rebecca Usher, a Civil War nurse.

“It has some history to it,” Grover said.

The private cemetery, which dates back to 1761, lies next to the noted Tory Hill Church. The cemetery contains nearly 5,000 graves and has a reverent appearance with the yard dotted with trees.

“Jeff has done an awesome job,” Poitras said.

Poitras said Demitroula Kouzounas of Saco, an Army veteran, would be the keynote speaker for the observance, and an honor guard from Buxton police and fire departments will participate. Mel Tukey will play “Taps.”

A Wreath Across America calendar for 2013 even features a photo of a past ceremony in the Buxton cemetery. Atkinson said the photo was taken by Sherry Estabrook of Water Cat Productions in Hollis.

“I felt honored they used that,” Atkinson said.

To help make the Buxton observance possible, the cemetery association depends on sponsors. It received nearly $500 in gifts in memory of Mona (Libby) Dewitt, who was buried at the cemetery in November.

Organizers in Buxton are hoping the weather will cooperate on Saturday, and expect another large turnout. Atkinson said some people who traveled to Arlington last year plan to attend the Buxton ceremony this year.

“I’ve had quite a few phone calls,” he said.

The Wreaths Across America convoy, carrying thousands of made-in-Maine Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, made a special stopover at Westbrook Middle School on Monday morning. After many of the event’s organizers were interviewed in the Performing Arts Center by local radio host Ray Richardson, a swarm of middle and high school students shivered outside in the cold drizzle to wave flags and cheer the trucks as they headed south to continue their journey.
Maine’s first lady, Anne LePage, was one of many people taking part in the Wreaths Across America convoy event Monday morning at Westbrook Middle School. She’s interviewed by radio host Ray Richardson from the stage at the Performing Arts Center.
Officials at the South Buxton Cemetery plan for decorating graves of veterans in a Wreaths Across America ceremony on Saturday. Pictured, from left, are Chad Poitras, cemetery board member; Richard “Sandy” Atkinson, association president; and Jeffrey Grover, cemetery superintendent.