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Wreaths
Across America Announces 2018 Theme
“Be their witness.”
MAINE and Greenville, Ohio — Dec 2, 2018 — Each year, millions of
Americans come together to REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those that serve
and their families, and TEACH the next generation about the value of
freedom. This gathering of individuals and communities takes place in
local and national cemeteries in all 50 states as part of National
Wreaths Across America Day. Locally, Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR will
be coordinating Wreaths Across America at the Greenville Union Cemetery
on December 15th at noon. Each year, a new theme is chosen to assist
local supporters focus the message and outreach in the community.
Today, the national office of Wreaths Across America announced the
theme for 2018 is “Be their witness.”
The inspiration for this year’s theme stems from the 2009 drama “Taking
Chance,” which was based on the experiences of U.S. Marine Lt. Colonel
Michael Strobl, who escorted the body of a fallen Marine, PFC Chance
Phelps back to his hometown in Wyoming from the Iraq War.
“I was deeply impacted by this story and found it difficult at times to
fathom the burden this young man carried in his task. Lt. Col. Strobl
volunteered to be a witness for PFC Phelps, and as the movie so
eloquently states, he is now responsible in no small part for PFC
Phelps’s legacy,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths
Across America. “Through the Wreaths Across America program, we are
ensuring that the lives of our men and women in uniform are remembered,
not their deaths. It is our responsibility as Americans, to be their
witness and to share their stories of service and sacrifice with the
next generation.”
Fort GreeneVille Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and the
Greenville Union Cemetery would like to invite everyone to the Wreaths
Across America event. This is the first year that the cemetery is
having this honorable event and planning for many years to come.
The local ceremony will begin at noon at the Greenville Union Cemetery
mausoleum and Soldiers section. Local Veterans will be representing
their branches of service: Chris Rehmert-Army, Charles Shields-Marine,
Elaine Harter-Air Force, Kevin Shuttleworth-Coast Guard, Dean
Delk-Navy, Stephen Eldred-Merchant Marines, along with Starranne Wise,
Army, playing taps.
National Wreaths Across America Day, will take place this year on
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. At Greenville Union Cemetery, the event will
be at noon and more information can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/fortgreenevilledar/.
In 2017, more than 1.5 million veteran wreaths were placed on
headstones at 1,422 participating cemeteries around the country in
honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms, with each
name said out loud.
National Wreaths Across America Day is a free event and open to all
people. For more information on Wreaths Across America, please visit
www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
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