Wreaths Ceremony Honors Military at Fairmount Cemetery
Russ Baldwin | Dec 12, 2011 | Comments 0
The first annual Wreaths Across America ceremony was held this past Saturday in the Veteran’s Section of Fairmount Cemetery in Lamar. Just under 100 residents attended the 10am observation. Despite the sunny skies, the gathering ignored the frigid temperature, which hovered in the low 20s.
The placing of Christmas wreaths at the headstones of deceased veterans began in 1992 at Arlington National Cemetery and has since spread across the nation. Similar observances were conducted in all 50 states this past weekend.
Those participating locally included the Lamar VFW Post #3621; the Lamar American Legion Post #71; The Lamar Cub Scouts Pack #223 and the Lamar Boy Scouts Pack #218. The ceremonies included the Presentation of the Colors by the Boy Scouts, the Pledge of Allegiance by the Cub Scouts as well as the playing of taps and a military salute. John Sykes of Peacock Funeral Home led the ceremonies and called upon members of the community to place seven wreaths at the Veteran’s Monument. The included: Alfred Adame for the U.S. Army; Jordan Ward for the U.S. Navy, Rene Gonzales for the U.S. Marine Corps; Darnell Sykes for the U.S. Air Force; Elijah Nelson for the U.S. Coast Guard; Bill Elam for the U.S. Merchant Marines and Cole Ryder place a wreath to honor the 93,129 servicemen and women who were either missing in action or prisoners of war.
Individual wreaths were also placed at the headstones of servicemen in Fairmount Cemetery, concluding the ceremonies for this year.
By Russ Baldwin
Filed Under: community • Events • Featured • History • Lamar
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