A Wreaths Across America ceremony was held at Wade Hampton Veterans Park in North Augusta to honor loved ones who never made it home. The ceremony in North Augusta was for those who will not be able to get a wreath on Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 14.
American Legion Post commander Phil Homan placed a wreath at near a marker at the park.
The following Saturday, there was a ceremony at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Graniteville at noon, which included laying of the wreaths. There were also wreath-laying ceremonies at Pineview Memorial Gardens and Sunset Hill, which are in North Augusta.
“It’s just a way to honor those veterans who hadn’t been here, can’t be here and to honor their families that way,” Homan said.
Homan said Wreaths Across America was originally for those who never made it home for Christmas by putting a wreath on each grave. .
Homan said the event grew to a nationwide program to honor those who have served. About a million wreaths will be donated.
Post 71 mostly gets their wreaths by donations, sponsors and through fundraisers.
“They are not forgotten and we recognize everybody and those that are deployed right now. We think about them all the time because we all faced that,” he said.
Local veteran Susan Dykes said it was a privilege for her to attend the ceremony because they came before her and they made it possible for her to have freedoms.
“I can at least take a moment to say thank you,” she said.
“Take a moment to stop and count your own blessings, no matter how hard the day may be, we are here because of them,” she added.
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Publish date : 2024-12-12 03:16:00
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