1812 members posing for a photo at the Wreaths Across America Wreath Laying Ceremony.
The two gentlemen in the photo below are very important to the smooth operation of the Wreaths Across America Wreath Laying each year. This year, there was a problem with the wreaths being delivered in a truck that was too large to enter the Wilmington National Cemetery. Luckily, thanks to TV advertising and outreach to the sponsorship groups, there was enough manpower and trucks to move the wreaths to the proper locations at the cemetery in time for distribution, a little after 12:30, when the program was over.
Jerry Ford is the Wreaths Across America Location Coordinator for the Wilmington National Cemetery. He is responsible for planning and coordinating all the activities associated with the ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery. Ed Valleau is a member of Civil Air Patrol and a senior member of the Cape Fear Composite Squadron. He oversees one of the wreath distribution areas: wreath arrival, unpacking boxes, and assisting in the distribution for laying of the wreaths.
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Lt. Col. Patty Kelley, USAF (ret)
Caron Myers, secretary with keynote speaker.
This is the truck that brought all of the wreaths to Wilmington National Cemetery. Unfortunately, the large truck could not enter the cemetery. So extra trucks and men were needed to help load them and bring all the wreaths to the cemetery by 12:30, so the wreath-laying ceremony would still be on time.
The substantial size of these graves reflects the gravity of their sacrifice.
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| People are just beginning to lay the wreaths on the graves. |
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| Carol Jutte at Wreaths Across America before everyone started to lay all the wreaths. Fortunately, all 5,172 wreaths were placed on the graves of Veterans, unless a Star of David is on the tombstone. |
This is a photo of Carol Jutte in 2017 at Wreaths Across America. Look how beautiful the cemetery is with all the wreaths placed on the graves.
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Phyllis Wilson, WAA manager of four sponsorship groups. The Brunswick Town DAR Chapter, The US Daughters of 1812, The Lord Craven Colonial Dames Chapter, and The Daughters of Colonial America
Thank you, Alan P. Curtner, Webmaster & Road Captain CMA Knights of the Light, Wilmington, NC, for sharing some photos for our blog. Thank you, Caron Myers, Rebecca Chapman, and Keidra Koenig, for your photos. Other photos taken by blog manager Phyllis Wilson.
