SPRINGVALE — Evergreen wreaths adorned with red velvet bows decorate the white marble stones this morning at Southern Maine Veteran’s Cemetery, placed there by volunteers Saturday to remember veterans at Christmas and to mark Wreaths Across America day.
The simple act of placing the wreath is an assurance that those who served are not forgotten.
The event at the veterans cemetery Saturday drew more than 200 people, coinciding with ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where the Wreaths Across America convoy that originated in Harrington a week ago, arrived to place Christmas wreaths at the national veterans cemetery. A ceremony also took place in nearby Buxton, hosted by the South Buxton Cemetery Association.
It was downright cold at the noontime service in Springvale ”“ temperatures never got out of the teens Saturday and struggled to break 10 during the half-hour ceremony ”“ but it didn’t seem to matter because hearts were warm.
Sponsored by Rolling Thunder Maine Chapter 2, the ceremonial wreaths were placed by veterans to honor each branch of military service ”“ Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines ”“ as well as for prisoners of war and those missing in action.
The practice originated with wreathmaker Morrill Worcester more than 20 years ago, when he took 5,000 surplus wreaths and got permission to place them on headstones at the national cemetery. It has grown over time, and the nonprofit Wreaths Across America was born. Thousands of wreaths are sponsored and placed at Arlington National Cemetery, and at ceremonies like the one in Springvale on Saturday.
In Springvale, Jessica Johnson played “America, the Beautiful” on the bugle and Ellen Lehoux sang the National Anthem, a capella.
Disabled American Veterans chaplain Bob Seckar offered a prayer.
“Grant their families and loved ones peace,” he prayed.
“We shall not forget them,” added Cindy DeCosta of Rolling Thunder.
The U.S. Senate on Friday passed a resolution authored by Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, proclaiming Saturday as Wreaths Across America Day.
“Wreaths Across America has evolved from a desire by Morrill and Karen Worcester to honor our nation’s veterans into a nationwide outpouring of gratitude to America’s heroes and their loved ones,” the senators said in a joint statement. “Because of the generosity of spirit and good will of hundreds of dedicated volunteers, over the past two decades, more than one million wreaths have been placed with solemn reverence at the base of the tombstones of veterans in Arlington National Cemetery as well as national and state cemeteries across the country.”
The senate resolution also honors Patriot Guard Riders, who provided the escort to Arlington, and all of the volunteers and donors. Patriot Riders attended the Springvale ceremony as well, and DeCosta said among those who donated wreaths for Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery was the Sanford Springvale Fish and Game Protective Association, which sponsored 150 wreaths, the most by one organization.
Laying wreaths for the Army were Dale Midgley and Earl Bell; Phil Cabana and Larry Leblanc for the Marines; Anne Broderick, Chris Broderick and Roger Emard for the Navy; Bob Tyler and Jim Cressey for the Air Force; John Cotsifas and Ron Holley for the Coast Guard; Scott Keller and Karl Huntley for the Merchant Marines; and World War II veteran and former prisoner of war Leon Tanguay, assisted by his son-in-law John Cote for POWs and those listed as missing in action.
Following the ceremony, families snapped photos of those laying wreaths, and there were tears and smiles in the chill air.
Some came and laid wreaths at the headstones of those they didn’t know, but felt a debt of gratitude for their service.
Nancy Pleiter-Sadowy of Arundel placed a wreath at the stone of a woman who had served in the Navy. She chose that particular stone, she said, because of the inscription, which read, “full of joy.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].
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