Photo By Senior Airman Ty Pilgrim | Members of the local community pay their respects to a fallen veteran during the...... read more read more
Subscribe
HURLBURT FIELD, FLORIDA -- Active-duty personnel, local veterans and members of the public gathered Dec. 14, 2024, at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for the annual Wreaths Across America Placement Ceremony.
During the ceremony, volunteers from the local community came together to lay hundreds of wreaths on the graves of fallen service members.
The event was part of a nationwide initiative to honor veterans during the holiday season.
After the Freedom Bell in the Veteran’s Tribute Tower tolled, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark A. Massaro, 96th Test Wing commander, reflected on the significance of remembering those who gave their lives in defense of the nation.
“This ceremony reminds us that the sacrifices of our fallen service members were not made in vain,” Massaro said. “They lived with purpose, dedicating their lives to the defense of freedom and the protection of our way of life.”
Since its founding 17 years ago, Wreaths Across America’s mission is to “remember, honor and teach,” with a focus on educating young volunteers about the sacrifices made by the nation’s Veterans.
“We are here to participate in a time-honored tradition, one that transcends borders and generations,” Massaro said. “Wreaths Across America has been a beacon of patriotism and remembrance, which began as a simple gesture of respect by Morrill Worcester and has grown into a national movement.”
The 1st Special Operations Wing's deputy commander, Col. Kaveri Crum, joined local military leadership teams, veterans and local community members in honoring those laid to rest at the cemetery by laying wreaths on veterans’ gravestones, which serves as a final resting place for both Air Force members and veterans from all branches of the military.
“We’re remembering them,” said U.S. Army Col. Griffin Merrill, 7th Special Forces Group deputy commander. “We’re honoring their sacrifice, and we’re teaching all generations about the cost of the freedom those veterans who have served and fallen before us bought and paid for.”
The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence followed by the playing of “Taps” as attendees reflected on the lives and legacies of the fallen. For more information about the program and how to get involved, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
| Date Taken: | 12.14.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 01.03.2025 14:17 |
| Story ID: | 487830 |
| Location: | FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Wreaths Across America honored at Beal Memorial Cemetery, by SrA Ty Pilgrim, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
