MONTE VISTA — Approximately 65 people gathered Saturday, Dec. 16, to place over 1,600 wreaths on Veterans’ graves at the Homelake Veterans Cemetery for the local Wreaths Across America ceremony.

Pam Self, Director of Marketing and Admissions for the Homelake Veterans Living Center, opened the ceremony.

“Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the mission to remember the fallen, honor those that serve and their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom. To start the event please join me in a moment of silence to remember the fallen, and the 93,129 United States service members from all branches of the military whose last known status was prisoner of war or missing in action, and to honor those who have served, or are serving in these great nations armed services,” she said.

Wreaths Across America is an American nonprofit organization established in 2007 by wreath producer Morrill Worcester, assisted by veterans and truckers. Its primary activity is distributing Veteran's wreaths for placement on graves in military cemeteries. In December 2008, the United States Senate agreed to a resolution that designated Dec. 13, 2008, as Wreaths Across America Day. Subsequent National Wreaths Across America Days have been designated on the second or third Saturday of December.

Self gave a short speech in honor of the day and ceremony.

“Thank you all for joining us here today. This year across the country at 4,218 participating locations like this one, there are millions of Americans gathering as one nation to remember, honor, and teach. The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price, lying here. Before us in cemeteries throughout the nation, are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear. The United States of America was founded on the ideals of freedom justice and equality. Our nation stands as a shining beacon of liberty and freedom to the world. We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free and we shall not forget you, we shall remember,” she said.

Self quoted the 40th U.S. President Ronald Regan, “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 to them.”  

Self said that the ceremony was not merely about putting a wreath on each grave but asked that participants also state the Veteran's name aloud as this helped to take a moment to thank them for their service to our country.

“It's a small act that goes a long way to keep their memory alive, remember we are not here today to decorate graves we are here to remember not their deaths, but their lives,” she said.

Self said each wreath was a gift of appreciation from a grateful nation.

All the people at the ceremony soon disbursed, including residents, and Veterans from the Homelake Community Living facility. People pulled the wreaths out of boxes and put one on each veteran’s grave.

Veteran and Homelake resident Charles Ronald Gustafson said, “This is very impressive. I come from Pagosa springs, and we did it on a smaller scale, but I was overwhelmed to see all the combat Veterans being here, it’s just marvelous. I have only been here 11 months, this is my first experience with this, but it will be long remembered for me.”