Wreaths Across America remembers veterans
Staff photo by Patrick McCallister
Army veteran Deborah Mowery and her husband, Tod, lay a wreath at White City Cemetery during the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13. Tod is a member of the St. Lucie County Commission. Wreaths Across America started in 1992 when Morrill Worcester started laying wreaths on graves at Arlington National Cemetery. His quiet holiday season tribute to fallen service members caught on. Today there are coinciding ceremonies at almost 250 wreath-laying cemeteries annually.
Patrick McCallister
For Veteran Voice
For the fourth year, St. Lucie County turned out big to honor service members and veterans who have died by placing wreaths on their graves. On Saturday, Dec. 13, about 200 people attended a Wreaths Across America ceremony and wreath laying at the White City Cemetery, 3800 Sunrise Blvd., White City. About 800 service members and veterans are buried there. That’s how many wreaths organizers had ready for ceremony attendees to lay.
“America should never forget those men who served when the nation called,” Port St. Lucie’s Roy Brewer told attendees.
Brewer is an Air Force Vietnam veteran. He was the master of ceremonies.
Wreaths Across America started, almost by accident, in 1992. Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, realized that his company was going to have extra wreaths that Christmas season. Inspired by a boyhood trip to Arlington National Cemetery, he got the help of Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, to have wreaths laid at graves in older sections of the storied cemetery.
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