Delaware County Citizens and Fellow Ohioans Join Wreaths Across America 2019 to Honor Veterans

 

DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohioans joined Americans from sea to shining sea to honor veterans during the annual Wreaths Across America event. Two locations in Delaware County held noon ceremonies – one at Kingwood Memorial Park in Lewis Center and another at Oak Grove in Delaware.

The Marine Corps League in Delaware Ohio, Sergeant Justin F. Hoffman Detachment 1437, held the ceremony at Kingwood.

A few miles to the north, “The Vietnam Veterans of America Ch. 1095 organized the Wreaths Across America at Oak Grove Cemetery today. We had over 125 volunteers place 940 wreaths at the graves of Veterans in the rain!…” they wrote.

 

Other events occurred all around Ohio.

The Ohio National Guard held a special ceremony at the Statehouse. “Remembering, honoring, teaching with Wreaths Across America…,” they shared on Facebook.

 

In Pickaway County the Camp Charlotte Chapter #41 of the Sons of the American Revolution were the organizers. Together with volunteers from local 4-H clubs, Boy Scouts, Community United Methodist Church and many community members they placed nearly 1300 wreaths on veterans’ graves.

Hancock County recorded their event and shared it on social media.

 

 

The Sons of the American Revolution chapter from Dayton tweeted, “Wreaths Across America … at noon today … Dayton National Cemetery.”

 

Worthington and Westerville held ceremonies at 11:30, and dozens more did likewise throughout the day.

At Kingwood Memorial Park, Marine Corps Master Sergeant Michael Schuette presided on behalf of the League (pictured above).

Schuette read the remarks that were heard from Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC to Hawaii National Park, Hawaii.

“Right now, across the country at more than 1,100 memorial sites like this one we are gathered as one nation to Remember, Honor and Teach. We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society…The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price.”

“The United States of America was founded on the ideals of Freedom, Justice and Equality. Our Nation stands as a shining beacon of liberty and freedom to the world. We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free and we shall not forget you. We shall remember.”

Prior to the laying of the wreaths, Schuette spoke these words from President Ronald Reagan:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

The ceremonies across the country ended with words of gratitude. “As a nation standing together, we can defeat terrorism, hatred and injustice. Thanks our Veterans, we have the freedom do just that.”

Wreaths Across America began with Morrill Worcester of Maine. It is “One man’s annual tribute to our veterans [which] inspired a legion of volunteers and gave rise to the Wreaths Across America of today.”
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Beth Lear is a reporter at The Ohio Star.  Follow Beth on Twitter.  Email tips to [email protected].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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