Wreaths Across America honors fallen soldiers

BYEDDIETRIZZINO TIMESWESTVIRGINIAN

GRAFTON – At noon on Saturday, thousands of wreaths were placed on the gravestones of military veterans across the country.

The West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton was no exception, as a group gathered to honor fallen soldiers at an annual Wreaths Across America ceremony.

“It’s just beautiful. Absolutely superb how many came out. It could not be any better than this,” Buddy Myers, coordinator for the Wreaths Across America program, said.

The Wreaths Across America program is a nationwide initiative to give honor to fallen veterans by presenting each with a wreath and reciting his or her name in recognition.

For Myers, the program is all about remembering the veterans SEE WREATHS, PAGE 3A

North Marion High School students Eve Hine (left) and Kaden Pavalok place wreaths in remembrance of veterans Saturday.

PHOTO BY TAMMY SHRIVER

Rob Wilson salutes a veteranʼs gravestone before laying a wreath at the Wreaths Across America ceremony Saturday.

PHOTO BY TAMMY SHRIVER

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who passed away, and making sure they stay in the public mind.

“It’s about the teaching, the honoring; it’s to remember and to teach the kids what these people did for them before they were born,” Myers said.

At the ceremony, Myers was joined by a crowd of about 100 people, as well as the Taylor County Honor Guard who all helped pay tribute to the veterans.

The event’s keynote speaker was Michael Boonie Jarvis, an Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War and president of the 886 Foundation, who spoke of the sacrifices made by the veterans.

“I’m just a guy from Fairmont, doing my little time to give back to my brothers that served. Then it really made an impact and what an honor it is to stand here and say something on behalf of these people, as this is their final resting place,” Jarvis said.

“They’re here for one reason: freedom. What America is based on, that’s why individuals take that oath of enlistment to defend and protect, not only for themselves but for their families.

“The cost of freedom is always high, but America has always paid the price.”

Jarvis finished his speech by asking the audience to repeat the name on each headstone where they place a wreath, followed by a moment of silence for the deceased as a symbol of remembrance.

Once the honor guard gave a 21-gun salute, members of the audience gathered wreaths and placed them on each headstone, before reciting the name on each and giving a moment of silence.

Though the program takes place nationwide, Myers started participating in it about 10 years ago, bringing only his family to honor the cause. This year, he managed to gather almost 1,600 wreaths to be placed among the approximate 2,100 headstones in place at the cemetery, which includes the first casualty of the CivilWar.

“We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free, and we shall not forget you. We will remember,” Marsha Myers said in a speech at the ceremony.

Email Eddie Trizzino at etrizzino@timeswv.com and follow him on Twitter at @eddietimeswv.