By Christine Harkinson/Staff
Wreaths Across America (WAA) is working to fulfill its mission to remember, honor and teach through the annual laying of wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, and at more than 1,200 locations across the country.
“America’s longest veterans’ parade” made its final stop in New Jersey at Masonic Village at Burlington Life Plan Community Fellowship Center on Dec. 11. The wreaths’ journey from Maine to Arlington has become a tradition, allowing locals along the route to share in the emotional and educational experience as the WAA convoy passes through their hometown.
“This is our second year to participate in this noteworthy event,” said Anda Durso, executive director of Masonic Village. “Last year went so beautifully. It was really heartwarming, and I think everybody left with such a good feeling.”
The wreath convoy and its escorts were welcomed by local and state officials, including Ginamarie Espinoza, district director for Congressman Donald Norcross. Espinoza then presented a proclamation to Masonic at the community remembrance ceremony, whose attendees included community leaders, members of the local military base, volunteers and students from local high schools.
The event also featured the ROTC from Burlington Township and Burlington City high schools. The former’s a capella choir performed the national anthem, and the Golden Eagle Community Band performed a concert of patriotic and American songs. They also conducted the Armed Forces Salute, where a member of each branch of the military accepted a ceremonial wreath from WAA.
A member of each branch of the military accepted a ceremonial wreath from Wreaths Across America at the Masonic Village at Burlington Life Plan Community Fellowship Center on Dec. 11.
“We are so pleased to have been selected as an official stop on the wreath convoy,” Durso noted, “as we have many resident veterans from several wars, including WW II, and are proud to honor their duty to our country.”
Masonic has a page on the WAA website for anyone who would like to sponsor a wreath and support the organization’s local efforts. For details, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/179453/Overview/?relatedld=16609.
“Forty-five or so of our residents are veterans, and they’re the silent generation,” Durso emphasized. “They don’t really like to talk a lot about their personal (feelings) … A lot of them have been in wars and (it) was very traumatic for them, and they don’t necessarily like to discuss it in detail with us that often.
“Whenever we have the opportunity to recognize them on any kind of occasion like (Dec. 11) – where we’re going to see the Wreaths Across America convoy coming through and the ceremony – we just would like to take the opportunity to recognize them and teach the other generations about it.”
WAA is a nonprofit founded to continue and expand the annual wreath laying at Arlington begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. Its mission is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at the cemetery, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.
Follow WAA on Facebook at https://Facebook.com/WAAH
