Photo By Capt. Lisa Allen | Wreaths adorne gravestones at Beaufort National Cemetery. Family members and...... read more read more
BEAUFORT, S.C. –The smell of pine permeated the air as hundreds of families and volunteers gather wreaths to pay tribute to loved ones and veterans during the Wreaths Across America celebration Dec. 12 at Beaufort National Cemetery.
A motorcycle procession rolled into the cemetery escorting a local Pepsi truck carrying the memorial wreaths. Onlookers snapped photos and local ROTC units lined the way standing at attention rendering salutes. As the roar of motorcycles ceased a bagpiper began to play, alerting the crowd to take their place around the flag pole.
“We couldn’t have asked for better weather,” commented David Edwards, the event organizer and location leader for Wreaths Across America Beaufort.
Edwards, along with Navy Captain Anne Lear, commanding officer of Naval Hospital Beaufort, and Navy Captain Ron Martel, executive officer of Naval Hospital Beaufort placed the wreath honoring veterans of the U.S. Navy. “It is an honor to take time out of a busy holiday season to remember our service members that have gone before us and reflect on why we serve” said Lear.
The importance of the service and sacrifice of the members of the U.S. military was driven home during a touching testimony shared by the keynote speaker. Father Martino Bá Thông Nguyen, a Vietnamese immigrant, shared his story of being raised on the streets of Saigon by parents that served alongside American service men and women during the Vietnam War. “My parents weren’t allowed to go back to their home because they served with Americans” recalled Martino. “I am so proud to be here among all of these heroes, I can’t wait to tell my parents and aunts and uncles that I got to spend time with all of you today.”
As the ceremony concluded family members of Medal of Honor recipients received the first wreaths to place at their loved ones graves; after which throngs of families and volunteers crowded around the truck to gather wreaths. From there, the search was on to find a loved one’s grave. People were seen kneeling together, praying, singing songs and quietly pausing as they remembered their service members.
Even amid all the commotion, the national cemetery was still shrouded in a peaceful calm as the sun cast shadows across the grounds and a cool breeze occasionally blew through the trees; reminding us that the service members may be gone, but they are never forgotten.
| Date Taken: | 12.14.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.14.2015 16:28 |
| Story ID: | 184485 |
| Location: | BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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