Volunteers honor, remember veterans during annual Wreaths Across America placement day

Published 11:00 am Saturday, December 14, 2024

As a military chaplain put it, maybe the hundred volunteers who took time out of their weekend to honor veterans got just a taste of what those in uniform faced at Valley Forge.

Folks of all ages and backgrounds braved some (not quite) freezing rain Saturday, Dec. 14, to place commemorative wreaths and honor thousands of veterans interred at Willamette National Cemetery. The local effort was part of a national endeavor helmed annually by Wreaths Across America.

“We don’t just want to think of them on Memorial and Veteran’s Day,” said Pat West, one of the local volunteer organizers. “Especially during the holidays this can be a tough time because having people missing is more difficult.”

This year at Willamette, 11800 Mt. Scott Boulevard, the 23-inch across wreaths, with brilliant red bows, were placed at a section for the recently interred (within the past year).

“We wanted to place wreaths in these areas of the cemetery because a lot of people are visiting them,” West said.

More than 2,800 wreaths were placed in that general section — where volunteers cover the field of graves with the ceremonial wreaths. There were also 345 grave-specific wreaths placed throughout the cemetery. That makes for more wreaths at Willamette than last year.

“Every little bit helps, from the people who purchase a wreath to those who volunteer to place them,” West said.

All of the wreaths will remain in place until Martin Luther King Junior Day. A few have also been set aside for any veterans who are buried over the next few weeks.

This year Wreaths Across America placed more than 3 million wreaths at 4,200 cemeteries across the world. The nonprofit organization began in 1992 when the Worcester Wreath Company found itself with a surplus of wreaths near the end of the season. Rather than let them go to waste, Morrill Worcester decided to place the wreaths at the Arlington National Cemetery.

That tribute continued quietly until 2005, when a photo of the wreaths spurred more to want to get involved. As thousands of requests for wreaths poured in from around the country, Wreaths Across America was born. Learn more about the organization at wreathsacrossamerica.org

The local ceremony had cadets from the Civil air Patrol Gorge Composite Squadron; the Oregon City VFW Honor Guard joined a tribute and salute to each branch of the military; and the Sons of the American Revolution gave a musket volley.

More than a decoration

None of the volunteers are glib during the placement of the wreaths.

It’s not just decorating the cemetery, they follow a set of steps to properly honor and celebrate the veterans. When placing a wreath:

• They take a moment to adjust the branches and fluff the bow before approaching the headstone.
• Extend the wreath outward offering it to the veteran.
• Place it centered below the headstone, so as not to cover the name.
• Speak the veteran’s name aloud.
• Leave and respect any items already placed at the headstones.
• Any military volunteer renders a slow salute, while others place their right hand over their heart.
• Some of the graves are for Jewish veterans, with headstones marked with a Star of David. Those vets are also honored with everything except the placement of a wreath.