Wreaths Across America draws thousands to lay wreaths at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
On a crisp and sunny Saturday afternoon, more than 3,000 volunteers walked among the rows of white marble headstones at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, carefully leaning a green and red Christmas wreath against each one.
They said the names on the headstones aloud and thanked them for their service.
The ceremony was part of Wreaths Across America. This nationwide event honors veterans and their families by placing balsam fir wreaths adorned with red bows on the graves at Christmastime.
The Cemetery of the Alleghenies, in Cecil Township, was one of about 4,100 locations around the U.S. and overseas, including Normandy, that observed the event.
Among those who attended the service at the Cemetery of the Alleghenies was 17-year-old Megan Kelley of Pittsburgh. She laid a wreath in honor of her grandfather, Ed Roscoe, a U.S. Army veteran who served as a crew chief with the 18th Engineer Brigade in Vietnam. Roscoe passed away in August 2022.
Kelley was accompanied by her mother, Julie Kelley, and her grandmother, Mary Lou Roscoe, of Greene County.
“This is special. The wreaths are an expression of the country’s thanks to him for what he did,” said Mary Lou Roscoe. “We used to come up just to look at the wreaths after they were laid. We would drive through the cemetery and see the wreaths, and he said, ‘That’s where I want to go when I die. I want to be there.'”
Every year, more than 3 million wreaths are laid.
At Saturday’s memorial at the Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 16,200 wreaths were placed, according to Brynnly Schwartz, the cemetery’s volunteer coordinator for Wreaths Across America.
Among those who participated were veteran organizations, students from area school districts, scholastic sports teams, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, businesses, Washington County Young Marines, the Pittsburgh Battalion of the U.S. Naval SeaCadet Corps, the Washington chapter of Red, White and Blue, and the George Washington Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the American Revolution. Among the speakers was state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, whose family has a history of military service.
During the ceremony, wreaths were laid for the members of each branch of service, past and present, and for prisoners of war and those who are missing in action.
“We are gathered here to remember and honor a special group of Americans who have either chosen to serve our country or have been chosen by our country to serve it in its hour of need,” said Cemetery of the Alleghenies Chaplain First Lieutenant Richard Gelfand. “As we lay these wreaths, may we never forget or take for granted the sacrifice of those who wore the uniform of our armed services to defend this great country.”
Wreaths Across America was launched in 2007, and Schwartz said the Cemetery of the Alleghenies has observed the event for 15 years.
Roberto Clemente Jr., the son of Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame outfielder Roberto Clemente, was scheduled to attend the ceremony but was forced to cancel his appearance.
In the 1958-59 off-season, Clemente enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, serving for the next six years while continuing his professional baseball career.
Schwartz read a statement from Clemente Jr.: “Today we gather as a grateful community to honor our fallen heroes whose sacrifices echo through the ages. Let us extend our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated volunteers who adorn these hallowed grounds with wreaths, for they have transformed our sorrow into a beautiful tapestry of remembrance.”
The ceremony also was special for Judy Cassidy, whose husband, George Cassidy, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War in Germany and passed away in August 2022. Judy Cassidy, of Beaver County, attended with her daughter, Mary Raucci and granddaughter, Chelsea Bauman. They also have other family members interred at the cemetery, including George Cassidy’s brother, Paul, a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Navy.
Said Mary Raucci, “We think it’s a great event that people come out and volunteer to put wreaths here, even for people they don’t know. It means a lot.”