Military honored with Wreaths Across America Day ceremony -

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the organization’s mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 1,600 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.

Martina Rohrback (VFW Auxiliary) and Kathleen Farley (President Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor) lay the POW/ MIA wreath. Kathleen’s grandfather died during the Bataan Death March and Martina’s grandfather was a Bataan Death March survivor.

This year, VFW Post 1525, led by Commander Mark Steinberg, hosted the event at Memory Gardens cemetery in Concord, which has over 2,600 Veterans’ graves.

More than 200 attended the services, laying more than 300 wreaths. A ceremonial “laying of seven wreathes” honored the five branches of the Armed Forces, the Merchant Marines and one for POW/MIA.

Local officials in attendance included Kayla Southwick for Mark De Saulnier, County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Concord Mayor Tim McGallian, and Clayton Vice Mayor Jim Diaz.

For more info on Wreaths Across America visit website wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Photos were contributed by Mark Steinberg, VFW

Wreaths Across America

Lt. Colonel ret. Mike Hudson and Airman 1st Class Pete Loechner lay the wreath for the US Marine Corps

Morgan Jones from Clayton Valley Charter High School played TAPS

Sgt 1st Class Tom Karas, three time purple heart recipient lays the wreath for the US Army.

Wreaths Across America — Dave & Candy Wullenweber (VFW Post 1525) prepare to lay a wreath on a family grave.

Wreaths delivered by Sherwin-Williams driver Ted Taxon – with team at Memory Gardens.

Tags: armed forces, military