Wreaths reign in the rain at Cemetery of the Alleghenies
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Mindy Miller of Freeport places a wreath on a grave at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies during the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Charlotte Fabanich, of Beaver, is hugged by her grandson, Nathan McBride, after the two placed a wreath Saturday at the grave of her husband, William Anthony Fabanich.
Rain did not stop many from attending a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil Township.
Observer-Reporter
Wreaths representing each branch of the military, plus one for POW/MIA, were placed during the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies last year.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Wreaths were placed on the graves of military veterans buried in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil Township.
Guests arrived early Saturday at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. One was super early.
“I got here at 7:30 and a lady was sitting in her car,” said Ron Hestdalen, the cemetery director. “I asked why she got here so soon and she said, ‘The ceremony begins at 8.'”
The Wreaths Across America event actually was scheduled for noon. “I told her and she took herself out to breakfast,” Hestdalen said, smiling.
That commuter may have been misinformed, but her instincts were correct. Many who attended this annual ceremony followed the prudent strategy of getting to the Cecil Township cemetery 90 minutes to two hours ahead of the proceedings. There was that detour off Morganza Road to negotiate, a large crowd was expected despite the forecast, and the men and women being honored deserved yet another salute.
That crowd was huge, considering the circumstances. On a day that also could have been designated Rain Across America, at least 2,000 people witnessed and/or participated in the wreath-laying at the cemetery. Family members or friends placed a wreath on the headstone of each of the estimated 11,100 military veterans interred there. Some wreaths had been displayed, privately, before Saturday.
A total of more than 15,000 vets, spouses and, in some instances, dependent children are buried at the 300-acre cemetery, which was established in 2008.
Saturday’s ceremony in Cecil is but one of more than 1,400 Wreaths Across America celebrations expected to take place this year. Most are in the United States, with about two dozen on foreign soil.
With the rain reigning at midday Saturday, Hestdalen strived to keep the program going. He started it early – one minute early, at 11:59. Hestdalen commended the masses, who encircled the podium on the massive property.
“You always think there will be a small crowd in weather like this, and you always make me a liar,” he said. Later, almost in awe, he estimated attendance at 2,000 to 3,000 “at least.”
A total of 34 organizations support this cemetery. Groups attracted enough donations to purchase 12,975 wreaths – a surplus of about 1,900, which were sent to other National Cemeteries. Minus about three dozen.
“We loaded boxes of them onto the truck (for three trips on Thursday and Friday) and we’re missing 30,” Hestdalen said. “We’re looking into that.”
The ceremony, coordinated and led by the Civil Air Patrol, was solemn and quickly paced. Hundreds of umbrellas shielded attendees partly from the precipitation, but not the chill of a December day. Still, it was a crowd dedicated to honor dedicated service personnel, some of whom sacrificed their lives.
Wreaths, representing each service branch plus POW/MIA personnel, were set down in front of the wall in the assembly area, where large groups gathered. Individual gravesites were adorned during the day.
“These wreaths represent our commitment to serve,” Hestdalen said.
He truncated a planned 30-minute ceremony to 12 minutes, closing with an advisory that resonates.
“Read the name on each headstone,” Hestdalen said. “Remember that name. Each headstone has a story.”