Veterans and Boy Scouts from Troop 78 stand with wreaths representing each branch of the U.S. military during the Wreaths Across America ceremony Saturday, Dec. 13, at Wylie Cemetery. Veterans pictured include Dwayne Moore (far left), honoring those who have served and are serving in the U.S. Army; Dave Clark, honoring the U.S. Marine Corps; retired Chief Master Sgt. Michael Selheim (center), honoring the U.S. Air Force; and James Goodrich (far right), honoring more than 80,000 U.S. service members listed as prisoners of war or missing in action. Boy Scouts held wreaths representing the U.S. Navy, Space Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. Shelley Dowdle/The Wylie News
The National Wreaths Across America ceremony at Wylie Cemetery Saturday opened with a call to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.
The Wylie ceremony was coordinated by Sarah Kewak, speaker and location coordinator for the local Wreaths Across America event Saturday, Dec. 13, and was held in conjunction with ceremonies across Collin County, Texas, and throughout the United States.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence to honor fallen service members, prisoners of war and those missing in action, followed by the posting of the colors by the Color Guard.
In opening remarks, Kewak noted that millions of Americans were gathering simultaneously at more than 5,600 participating locations nationwide to take part in the annual observance.
“The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price,” she said. “Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear. We can worship as we see fit. We can raise our children to believe as we do. We are free to vote for the leaders of our choosing. And we have the right to succeed, and we have the right to fail at whatever we wish to pursue.”
To read the full story, stay informed and support local journalism, subscribe to your community newspaper The Wylie News today!
0 Comments