Story and photos by Erika Willitzer
Every December, volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery gather to lay wreaths at the final resting places of fallen veterans. The tradition started in 1992, and once news spread, others around the world wanted to emulate the ceremony.
There are now over 1,400 locations across the country that pay tribute to fallen heroes. Paulding Putnam Electric Co-op member Linda McCain learned of the Wreaths Across America organization from her brother and felt compelled to honor our local veterans in Paulding.
On Dec. 15, 2018, the inaugural Wreaths Across America Ceremony in Paulding County was held at St. Paul Cemetery. Over 200 people came to pay their respects to fallen veterans by laying Christmas wreaths on their graves.
McCain spearheaded the local committee for the organization. “For a little town like Paulding to have raised over $9,000 to pay tribute to our veterans and to see all these people here … it just amazes me,” said McCain.
In its first year, Paulding County Wreaths Across America was able to purchase 477 wreaths to place on veterans’ graves. So many wreaths were sponsored that they have carryover for next year. According to the Wreaths Across America website, over 800 wreaths were sponsored in 2018 for Paulding, Ohio. The wreaths were placed at St. Paul Cemetery, Cooper-Haines Cemetery, and part of Live Oak Cemetery.
Vietnam veteran John Daeger from Broughton, who laid the ceremonial wreath for the Marines, says the decision to be part of this cause wasn’t a hard one.
“I’ve had friends who I was stationed with who I have lost, and friends who I went to high school with who were lost due to Agent Orange,” he says. “So when I had the opportunity to work with Linda, it was something I jumped on.”
Erika Willitzer is marketing and economic development manager at PPEC.
Ceremonial wreaths were placed on graves for our local Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard, and POWs/MIA veterans.
“Our nation stands as a shining beacon of liberty across the globe,” McCain said.
McCain also quoted former president Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
Wreaths Across America’s core mission is to remember, honor, and teach: remember the fallen, honor those who serve (and their families), and teach the future generations about the sacrifices made to preserve our freedoms.
For more information, visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org and search Paulding, Ohio. There, you can learn how to volunteer your time and shop for items in their fundraising store.
See more by watching the video in the news section on our website, www.PPEC.coop, or on our Facebook page.
Pictured at right is Vietnam veteran John Daeger from Broughton and PPEC member Linda McCain who started the local Wreaths Across America committee.
