A LITTLE assistance was welcomed as one of the younger volunteers placed a wreath on the grave of a veteran at Saturday’s Wreaths Across America ceremony at Forest Glade Cemetery. (Mark Sardella Photo)
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — A large crowd gathered at Forest Glade Cemetery at noon last Saturday for the annual “Wreaths Across America” ceremony during which wreaths were placed on each of the 440 graves in the veterans’ section of the cemetery.
As Veterans Advisory Board chairman Paul Cancelliere welcomed the many in attendance, he noted that the theme for Saturday’s ceremony was “Live with Purpose.”
Cancelliere recounted that the Wreaths Across America movement originated when Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, found himself with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the 1992 holiday season. Remembering a boyhood visit to Arlington National Cemetery, Worcester realized he had an opportunity to honor the country’s veterans, and arrangements were made for the surplus wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older cemetery sections that had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.
That gesture has blossomed into a nationwide movement involving thousands of Americans placing wreaths at over 4,000 local, national and military cemeteries as well as veterans’ memorials and historic sites across the country each year at Christmas time.
After Wakefield Veterans’ Services Officer David Mangan led the crowd in the pledge of Allegiance at Saturday’s local event, Father Thomas Reilly of the Lazarus Center for Healing Shrine (formerly St. Florence Church) offered an opening prayer.
Cancelliere then welcomed guest speaker Marion Dennehy, New England Region President and Secretary of the Greater Boston Chapter of Gold Star Wives of America, who also serves as a member of the Wakefield Veterans Advisory Board. Dennehy’s husband, Richard, was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War who suffered from exposure to Agent Orange. Marion is the recipient of the Medal of Fidelity, honoring the loss of her husband.
Cancelliere pointed to the eight wreaths displayed on stands along the edge of the Veterans’ section of the cemetery, symbolizing “a united front of gratitude for service to the United States of America.” The wreaths represented each branch of the United States military as well as the 80,000 servicemen listed as POWs or Missing in Action.
Cancelliere called upon Julie Scott to place the POW-MIA flag on the first wreath. Julie is the niece of Gerald F. Scott, a sergeant with the Second Infantry Division of the Eighth Army who went missing in action after being taken prisoner in early 1951 during one of the Korean War’s worst massacres.
Others were called upon to place the flag of each branch of the military service. Joseph Giacobbe placed the U.S. Arm
WREATHS on the graves in the veterans’ section of Forest Glade Cemetery offer a fitting tribute during the holiday season. The 440 donated wreaths were placed during Saturday’s local Wreaths Across America ceremony. (Mark Sardella Photo)
y Flag on the wreath honoring those who have served in the Army. Dennis Fazio placed the Marine Corps Flag. Marion Dennehy placed the U.S. Navy flag on its wreath and David Mangan placed the Air Force Flag. Debbie Pond placed the flag for the United States Space Force. Jackie Cottrell and Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio posted the United States Coast Guard flag. World War II veteran Charles Deniso place a flag on the wreath honoring those who served and are serving in the United States Merchant Marines.
Cancelliere noted that the 440 wreaths were donated specifically for the graves of those buried in the two veteran sections of the cemetery, adding that, “These two veteran sections are monuments to all our veterans.”
He then asked all to observe a moment of silence in honor of the fallen, the missing, and those held captive. Kathryn Sliski, a junior at Wakefield Memorial High School, then played “Taps,” before attendees fanned out and began placing wreaths at each veteran’s grave.
