Once again it is time to thank everyone who helped to make the Wreaths Across America project at Woodland Cemetery veterans section a very beautiful success. To everyone who helped in any way, Linda (Dalton) and I wish to tell you how much we appreciate your help each year in making this become a reality for us.

In the beginning we were told it was something that would never work because of the large expense in purchasing the wreaths. Thanks to all of you, we saw it come to pass, not only the first year, but in 2013 and 2014 also.

You gave of your time and monetary donations as well. We were so pleased with Charlie Company from the Ohio National Guard who came to our assistance. They brought so much to the program in the form of work unloading the truck with the wreaths and ideas to make the service very memorable.

Staff Sgt. Shane Hatfield gave a very inspiring talk. One of his remarks was, “When you raise your hand and take the oath, you write a check to your country and sometime you pay with your life.”

For this check we all need to be very grateful now and especially in the future.

We wish to also thank VFW Post 8850 for their assistance. To the young Tyler Payne for his rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner,” we wish to offer our thanks also. It was beautiful.

Thanks to Jimmy Townsend for closing out the program at Patriots Path with taps.

Thank you to the men who placed a wreath representing each branch of service. Also we would like to thank Bill Boggs. Jeff Beasley and Tom Lewis for providing the sound equipment.

To Mr. Leon Dalton for serving as master of ceremonies, for providing a power source for the sound system and for all the extra things we ask you to do to help us, we thank you.

Thank you also the The Tribune for running our flyer, which so many people use to make their donations. To Citizens Deposit Bank and Mrs. Jodi Rowe-Collins for overseeing the donations in every way. The rest of the ladies there are always ready to do whatever we need to help also.

Let us not forget the cemetery workers who drove the truck loaned to us by Bobby Ackerman to load and unload the wreaths. They also dispose of the wreaths once we remove them from the graves at noon on Saturday.

The wreaths arrived late on Tuesday night and the driver was nice enough to stay overnight so we could unload in the morning. Volunteers who show up to help unload 83 boxes of wreaths were greatly appreciated. Thanks to the person who was just driving by and knew what we were doing and stopped to help.

The thing that amazes Linda and I about this endeavor is how every year, you, the public, come through for us to see this event happens. So to all of you, we wish to say thank you and we are looking forward to seeing you next year.

 

Juanita Southers