The Darke County Honor Guard took turns during the ceremony laying a wreath in honor of each branch of the military.
Photos by Drew Terhall | The Daily Advocate
The Greenville High School ROTC helped lay wreaths after the ceremony along with many other volunteers.
The wreaths the Darke County Honor Guard, Walters and Dohmn placed to honor those who protected us for our freedoms.
By Drew Terhall
DailyAdvocate.com
GREENVILLE — National Wreaths Across America Day took place in Darke County on Dec. 16 with many local cemeteries taking part in honoring fallen veterans around the area.
At Greenville Union Cemetery, the Fort GreeneVille Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a ceremony prior to volunteers putting wreaths near the veterans tombstones.
Multiple speakers took the microphone to speak about how this day is not about decorating, but it’s about honoring those who lost their life protecting our freedoms.
“The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear,” Regent Penny Weaver said.
The Darke County Honor Guard placed wreaths to honor each branch of the military. Sandra Walters, a Gold Star family member, laid a wreath in honor of the 93,129 United States Servicemen who were last known to be Prisoners of War or Missing in Action. Retired firefighter Jeff Dohmn placed a wreath in honor of all First Responders.
The Greenville High School ROTC and Color Guard were also a part of the ceremony. They also helped out and placed wreaths after the ceremony.
The Fort GreeneVille Chapter and volunteers laid over 1,775 wreaths. They laid 1,611 wreaths at Greenville Union Cemetery, 159 at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery, nine at Historical Water Street Cemetery, six at American Legion Post 140 and one at Hoover Cemetery. Versailles had three cemeteries take part, Greenlawn, St. Valbert and Frenchtown Cemeteries.
The theme for this year’s day was “Serve and Succeed.” Wreaths Across American focused on story lines of veterans and volunteers finding success through their service or through serving their communities.
Locals got a chance to serve the Greenville community by helping out by placing the wreaths and thanking each veteran by saying their name out loud.
“We encourage every volunteer here today, who places a wreath on a veteran’s grave, to say that veteran’s name aloud and take a moment to thank them for their service to our country. It’s a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive,” DAR member Virginia Kagey said.
Contact Daily Advocate Drew Terhall at [email protected]
