Page 59 - Tattnall County

there as we remembered those we were honoring today, not only here, but all across America. After Retiring of the Colors, instructions were given for placing of the wreaths. Did you know that there is a specifc way to place a wreath on the grave of an American soldier? It must be placed in such a way that anyone passing by can read the name without having to bend down and move the wreath. All Veterans in attendance were then given the privilege of going frst to lay a wreath on a grave.

After the veterans had placed wreaths on their chosen graves, everyone else was invited to place a wreath. When the service was over, some of us were given wreaths to place on the graves of our own veterans who were buried in other cemeteries. What an awesome touching service!

It was my honor and privilege to meet and have my photo taken with Mr. William Helwig, an 83-year-old World War II, and Korean War Veteran. Mr. Bill was the only World War II Veteran in attendance at this service today. According to Broadcast Journalist Tom Brokaw, author of the book The Greatest Generation , “It is, I believe, the greatest generation our society has ever produced.” He argued that these men and women fought not for fame and recognition, but because it was the right thing to do. World War II Veterans are dying at the rate of 1000 a day and 1800 Veterans of all wars die daily. Sadly, Mr. Bill passed away on March 6, 2011 and was brought back to this cemetery to be placed beside his beloved wife of 59 years, Marilyn. The following quote by Ronald Reagan, our 40th United States President, pretty well sums up why we in America send our best and brightest young men and women to fght in wars. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on 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 once was like in the United States where men were free.” I asked some of the veterans who were present at this service to write in their own words what their thoughts and feelings were about “Wreaths Across America Day 2010.”  TCM

dawned damp, dreary, and windy. It was a day we had been looking forward to for quite some time. Our cousin, Ernie Thompson, from Jacksonville, Florida came up last night to visit with us. This was the day we were going to the Wreaths Across America Ceremony at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville, Georgia. The second Saturday in December all across America people gather at Veterans Cemeteries to lay wreaths on graves of the men and women who have served our Country.

This wreath project started in 1992 by Worcester Wreath Company with the donation and laying of 5000 Christmas wreaths in Arlington National Cemetery. It has now become a national journey. It wasn’t until 2005 that the wreath project hit the internet, showing pictures of gravesites adorned with green wreaths tied with red bows sitting in the snow. When that happened people from all over the country began to contact Morrill Worcester wanting wreaths to place on the graves of their veterans. Mr. Worcester could not afford to supply wreaths to everyone so he devised the plan of giving seven wreaths to all who asked: one to represent each branch of the military and one for the POW/MIA. The Wreaths Across America Project was born. Donations are taken, wreaths are ordered, and on the day set aside each year thousands of volunteers gather across America to participate.

The 2010 service began promptly at 12:00 P.M. with the tolling of the bell twelve times, immediately followed by a moment of silence. The Air Force JROTC from Effngham County High School did the Posting of Colors followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag. Opening remarks were made and the JROTC Cadets placed memorial wreaths representing all branches of the military – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and one for the 93,129 servicemen “whose last-known status was either Prisoner of War or Missing in Action.” The veterans in attendance were asked to come forward and were presented with cards of appreciation for their service to our Country. Immediately, following this Mr. Bill Sasser of Bugles Across America played TAPS, which brought tears to the eyes of everyone