Wreaths Across America in New London
By John Faucher
A national movement to remember and honor veterans continues to grow in the New London area.
That is not surprising considering the community’s history of volunteerism in the armed forces.
From the Civil War to Vietnam and beyond, the New London area has seen a higher than average per capita ratio of men and women in service.
On Saturday Dec. 16, for the third year in a row, civilian volunteers joined forces with the National Wreaths Across America campaign in decorating as many veteran graves as possible for Wreaths Across America Day.
Wreaths Across America is best known for its annual wreath-laying ceremonies across the country at more than 3,700 participating locations, but their yearlong mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the next generation the value of freedom.
Wreath day
On wreath laying day, ceremonies are held at participating cemeteries honoring veterans.
Volunteers are encouraged to speak each veteran’s name aloud, thank him or her for their service and sacrifice as they reflect on that person’s life, as they place the wreath.
How it started here
Local coordinators Mary and Randy Schoenrock got the ball rolling in 2021 by signing up with WAA and other residents in their home town of Lebanon to decorate veteran graves at Ruckdashel Cemetery, one of three private cemeteries in the township.
In 2022, they expanded to include gravesites at Emanuel Lutheran, St. Patrick’s and Floral Hill Cemeteries. They did not have enough sponsors in the first two years to cover every site, but they accomplished a few more each year.
Schoenrock said the end goal is to grow each year and eventually have enough to cover every grave.
A national website through wreathsacrossamerica.org allows localized websites to create and collect sponsors who in turn cover costs of $15 per wreath. Then the national WAA matches each wreath one with another.
Mary also set up a local email at [email protected].
The email helps Schoenrock communicate with community volunteers and wreath sponsors who are encouraged to make their donation online for a specific cemetery.
This year a large donation from Mission BBQ helped decorate more veteran’s graves than ever.
Schoenrock said thanks to all sponsors, volunteers were able to lay more than 500 wreaths at Floral Hill, 32 at Emanuel Lutheran, 33 at Ruckdashel and about 40 at St. Patrick’s Cemetery.
“Donations were received from many organizations, individuals and businesses,” said Schoenrock.
She was especially thankful for volunteers who helped place the large number of wreaths this year. Groups assisting included; the New London ATV/UTV club, 711 Club, Northport Snowriders, American Legion Norris Spencer Post 263, New London High School National Honors Society and Mission BBQ.