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CHELSEA –The Outdoor Adventure Club at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn Senior College participated locally in the National Wreaths Across America Day held Saturday, Dec. 16, by laying wreathes at Togus National Cemetery.
The effort was part of the coordinated program veteran’ cemeteries across the country, synchronizing with the noontime ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery. The local effort was led by co-chairwomen Patricia Vampatella and Cindy Boyd.
The group was part of a hundred volunteers who gathered at Togus National Cemetery and placed the fresh evergreen “remembrance wreaths” — with bright red bows — on the graves of more than 5,000 veterans. When completed, volunteers looking at the white headstones, row upon row, covered with the green wreaths and red bows against the snowy fields made a heartwarming scene and filled their hearts with gratitude for the sacrifices veterans have made over and over throughout the years.
The noontime ceremony was held at the Togus Cemetery flagpole and synchronized with the ceremony at Arlington and Veteran cemeteries across the nation as well as those on foreign soil. Kaye Bouchard, Togus representative, led the veterans, families and friends assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence remembering the fallen Veterans.
In Maine, the Worcester Wreath Company provides wreaths at the three major veterans cemeteries — Togus National Cemetery and the two Maine Veteran Memorial Cemeteries in Augusta. U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins participated in the Wreaths Across America’s annual Capitol wreath laying ceremony in Washington, D.C. In a joint statement, they said “All Mainers should be proud that Wreaths Across America, this heartfelt expression of America’s gratitude, began in our state.” The Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, located in Washington County, is now in its 26th year of providing wreaths for headstones of veteran servicemen and servicewomen’s headstones in Arlington. Years ago, the company expanded its wreath operations and the program became a national movement and a tradition — Wreaths Across America.
Representatives from branches of the U.S. Services laid a remembrance wreath at the base of the flagpole. A three-gun salute was fired, followed by a member of the honor guard playing “Taps,” which concluded the ceremony. Senior College members have participated for four years.
PHOTO: Evergreen wreaths adorn headstones at Togus National Cemetery in Chelsea. (Rachel Morin photo)
