Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – Hundreds of local residents surrounding Fort Campbell turned out in a drizzling rain Saturday, December 14 to honor fallen veterans of the military and be a part of Wreaths Across America for the holidays. The Wreaths Across America ceremony was held at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, 5817 Fort Campbell Boulevard in Hopkinsville.
Some visitors arrived before the ceremony to place wreaths on the grave sites of their beloved veteran. After the ceremony the cemetery grounds were filled with family, friends and volunteers making sure that every grave site received one of the 1,900 Balsam Fir wreaths.
Specially designed holiday wreaths symbolizing the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and POW/MIA, were placed on memorials during the ceremony. Over 750 Wreaths Across America ceremonies were scheduled to be held simultaneously at other locations around the nation.
Keynote speaker for the ceremony was Chief Warrant Officer 5, Manny Vasquez who spoke about the fallen veterans. “I plead with you not to mourn these men and women, but honor their memory and recognize the value of their ultimate sacrifice to ensure that our country and other societies remain free and enjoy the fruits of liberty,” said
Another participant in Wreaths Across America is Clarksville artist Lynne Griffey. Griffey created a painting, “Scattering Garden”, and donated it to the Gold Star Wives, the primary organization behind the fundraising efforts for the Wreaths Across America project.
Richard Stanley, Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West Director, talked about Wreaths Across America. “It’s a way that all of the families can get together to honor the veterans that have passed and that are buried here. They get that special recognition that we remember them. It’s about remembrance,” said Stanley.
Stanley added that local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Posts along with the Gold Star Wives helped raise funds for the project. The Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Hopkinsville also supported the event by transporting the wreaths to Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West.