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Seasonal Salute To Soldiers

December 22, 2023

To those who served: Vowing to never forget, Wreaths Across America ceremonies honored deceased veterans at cemeteries across Bosque County

By the laying of festive wreaths on deceased veterans’ graves, no matter where they served or how, Wreaths Across America strives to ensure that none of the nation’s soldiers will ever be forgotten.

“There are many ways to serve your community and country, and just as many definitions of success,” Wreaths Across America Executive Director Karen Worcester said about this year’s additional slogan Serve & Succeed. “We hope through focusing on those stories of success, we will help change the dialogue around what it means to serve your country.”

With her third year of untiring devotion to the cause, Clifton’s Kathy Harr serves the town’s veterans and succeeds in an inspiring manner to find wreath sponsors, organizing a special ceremony and rallying volunteers to lay the wreaths in two Clifton ceremonies. In Bosque County, there are several local WAA coordinators that organize the laying of the wreaths at “their” cemeteries, like Grover McMains, Vickie Mitchell, Cheryl Niemeier, Barry Johnson and Debbi Stubbs.

This year’s solemn and reverent ceremony on Dec. 16 at the Clifton Cemetery on Highway 6 was conducted under the best weather conditions possible – blue skies, no freezing wind or rain. At the same moment across America in 4225 participating cemeteries, similar ceremonies took place. Harr was grateful for the fine weather but stressed that “our soldiers fought, no matter the weather.”

Wreaths Across America’s mission is to “Remember, Honor and Teach,” about the sacrifices made by veterans of the U.S. armed forces, whether in Normandy, Arlington, Virginia or Bosque County. The organization’s slogan is to remember fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve and teach the youth the value of freedom.

In her speech welcoming the large crowd gathered by the flag pole, Harr expressed her gratitude for all the youth present, showing a unified front of gratitude and respect for the deceased veterans.

Local Boy Scout Troop 376 posted the colors before the Pledge of Allegiance and salute, followed by the Meridian High School’s Not so Jazz Jazz Band playing the National Anthem.

Led by Gold Star family member Beth Fry, the Clifton Elementary School students sang “Soldier, This Song I Sing For You.” Their sweet, clear voices singing, “I sing to honor you, my hero and my friend,” was as heartwarming as it was appropriate. As always, Taps honored the deceased veterans in the ultimate way; this year played by MHS’ Hayden Cummings.

Because of their military training, all veterans embody special qualities like duty, commitment, service before self, honor, loyalty, respect, courage, integrity and commitment. The wreath placed by their headstones Saturday also has symbolism – the evergreen branches stand for longevity and endurance, the red bow for great sacrifice, the forest scent for purity and simplicity and the circle for eternity.

Always a solemn part of the WAA ceremony is the ceremonial wreath placing for all military branches by representatives of the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Including in that ceremony are the nearly 81,000 American service members – according to the Department of Defense – remain missing after having served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts involving the U.S. A three-volley salute additionally honored the veterans laid to rest at the cemetery.

“Almighty God, thank you for this glorious day on which we gather to honor our veterans who lie in this field and in fields across the land,” Steve Harr said in his prayer. “All of these veterans gave of their lives for us, so that we might live in this ‘Land of the Free,’ some gave it their very all.”

Before dismissing those gathered, Harr asked them to say the veteran’s name and thank them for their service when placing a wreath. "For many of them, this might be the only time this year their name will be heard,” Harr said. “Let it be known they have not been forgotten."

Many families chose Dec. 16 to visit grandpa’s, grandma’s or great-grandfather’s grave to remember them and their service to their country. At the Clifton Memorial Park on FM 1991, Tamara Alvis brought her children to help out and place a wreath on their great-grandfather Paw-Paw Kreuger’s grave. Army veteran Gus Kreuger Sr. survived World War II, fighting in Normandy, Belgium and Germany, receiving a Purple Heart when he lost his right arm in battle.

With their father Jeff currently serving in the Air Force, five-year-old Colton, four-year-old Tucker and two-year-old Clara are growing up appreciating and honoring those serving in the military and veterans.

“It’s important that they know what each individual veteran did for our country and us,” Alvis said, explaining why she brought her children to be part of the WAA event, young as they are. “We must continue to show our children how important the military service is for all of us.”

Others came to pay a solemn and touching tribute to strangers who fought for democracy and the freedoms the United States enjoys today. One gentleman was passing by the Clifton Memorial Park, when something urged him to stop and say a prayer. He was not aware of the WAA, but was thrilled to be part of this Christmas time tradition with his children.

How did the WAA initiative start? In 1992, Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester sought to turn a surplus of 5,000 holiday wreaths into an opportunity to pay tribute to the country’s veterans. With the help of then Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, Worcester arranged for the wreaths to be placed at the Arlington National Cemetery. The tradition continued on for more than a decade before national attention spurred the start of the 501c3 Wreaths Across America in 2007.

Now nationwide, more than two million wreaths were placed across local, National and Military Cemeteries as well as Veterans' Memorials and historic sites. Across Bosque County at Our Savior’s Lutheran in Cranfills Gap, St. Olaf’s Kirke in Norse and Lane's Chapel, an estimated 1300 wreaths were placed. In Clifton alone, 735 wreaths were laid.

Prior to Dec. 16, all these wreaths are delivered by volunteer truck drivers across the country. Location coordinators Vickie Thompson Mitchell, Debbie Stubbs and Harr showed their appreciation to the drivers with a gift basket and a patriotic quilt made by Stubbs. The wreaths were temporarily stored at Petol Gearench and distributed from there.

While veterans are typically honored on two national holidays, Veterans Day and Memorial Day, the wreath-laying at Christmas time adds to show a nation’s gratitude to the men and women who served their country well with their military service.

“We are not here to decorate their graves,” Harr said. “The wreaths are a token of appreciation for their lives, not their deaths.”