Wreaths Across America honors veterans in Walnut Creek

Last year Noel Vander introduced the Walnut Creek community to the somber yet meaningful tradition of Wreaths Across America, a national organization whose aim is to “Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom.”

On Saturday, Dec. 14 at St. John’s Church cemetery in Walnut Creek, a group of veterans, families and others wishing to pay their respects to those veterans who are buried there gathered to place wreaths at the base of each veteran’s headstone for a second year.

While Vander was unavailable for this year’s service, John Hochstetler stepped in to lead the service, and it was once again a time of celebration and remembrance.

“This is something we want to continue,” Hochstetler said. “We can never express our thanks and remember those who served enough. This is a way we can thank our dads, our brothers and those who have served for their commitment to serve our country in the name of freedom.”

During the ceremony Hochstetler said honoring veterans on days like Memorial Day and Veterans Day is inspiring, but Wreaths Across America brings with it a certain amount of intimacy unlike any other ceremony.

“There’s a personal touch for each individual in this ceremony,” Hochstetler said.

Wreaths Across America began in 1992 when the Worcester Wreath Company had a surplus at the end of the Christmas holiday season. Recalling a boyhood trip to Arlington National Cemetery, company founder Morrill Worcester donated 5,000 wreaths to honor the cemetery’s deceased veterans.

The desire to continue that tribute blossomed quickly and went nationwide, with one simple thought in mind: to honor America’s veterans one wreath at a time.

In the Walnut Creek ceremony, veterans from the Sugarcreek American Legion Post #494, friends and family members placed 33 wreaths next to the headstones of veterans, with several others destined for veterans buried in neighboring places.

During the ceremony Hochstetler said being killed in war isn’t the worst thing that can happen, nor is being lost, but being forgotten is a frightening thought.

“We’re here today so that these people are not forgotten,” Hochstetler said.

Linda Stefanov said Christmastime is the perfect time to recognize veterans because it centers around family, which is at the heart of what was taking place.

Jonathan Rider, pastor at St. John’s Church of Walnut Creek, spoke about the significance of the wreath itself.

“Wreaths are in a circle, which signifies everlasting life,” he said. “That’s the hope of Christians who have gone before us and for us today. The circle is also a symbol of strength.”

Rider then offered a prayer of thanks for these veterans prior to the group sharing in The Lord’s Prayer.

It was a touching tribute that meant a lot, especially to the family members.

Carol Pozuc is the daughter of veteran Donny Miller, who passed away, and she made the trip from Cuyahoga Falls to participate in the ceremony.

“It was very important for me to be here for this,” said Pozuc, who was placing wreaths in honor of her dad and Uncle Ralph Miller. “Being a veteran was really important to both of them, and it’s important to me, to our family and many others to be able to recognize them in this way.”

Krystal Hoffman agreed, saying it is important to gather together to honor those who have served and passed away.

For the participating families in Walnut Creek, it was a touching moment to remember and celebrate.

One by one families solemnly placed the wreaths at the base of each veteran’s headstone in remembering and honoring their lives.

Over the years Wreaths Across America has given many families a chance to do the same.

In 2007 the Worcester family, along with the support of veterans organizations and a variety of other groups and individuals who had helped with their annual veterans wreath ceremony in Arlington, formed Wreaths Across America.

National Wreaths Across America Day took place at more than 4,225 participating locations across the country including Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 14, where volunteers, family and friends remembered our nation’s heroes, a venture that honored more than 3 million veterans.

To learn more about Wreaths Across America, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.