Wreaths Across America Honor Fallen Soldiers

Over 3,000 wreaths were placed by war veterans, soldiers, and their families in the historic Battery Park.
Wreaths Across America Honor Fallen Soldiers
A soldier places a wreath in Battery Park in lower Manhattan on Saturday. December 11 is Wreaths Across America Day, a day to remember those that have died in service to the U.S. (Phoebe Zheng/The Epoch Times)
12/12/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/wreathWEB.jpg" alt="A soldier places a wreath in Battery Park in lower Manhattan on Saturday. December 11 is Wreaths Across America Day, a day to remember those that have died in service to the U.S. (Phoebe Zheng/The Epoch Times)" title="A soldier places a wreath in Battery Park in lower Manhattan on Saturday. December 11 is Wreaths Across America Day, a day to remember those that have died in service to the U.S. (Phoebe Zheng/The Epoch Times)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1810978"/></a>
A soldier places a wreath in Battery Park in lower Manhattan on Saturday. December 11 is Wreaths Across America Day, a day to remember those that have died in service to the U.S. (Phoebe Zheng/The Epoch Times)
NEW YORK—Mirroring over 400 locations across the nation, more than 3,000 wreaths adorned with red bows were placed by war veterans, soldiers, and their families in the historic Battery Park on Saturday to honor and remember New Yorkers who died serving their country.

As each wreath was laid, a promise was made to never forget those lost in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as in combat missions overseas.

“Reflect and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, willingly and unwillingly,” said Command Sergeant Major Sylvia Laughlin from Fort Hamilton.

The wreath-laying tradition began 19 years ago, when businessman Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath, donated 5,000 wreaths to the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where many of the nation’s war heroes are laid to rest. With the annual event drawing increasing interest over the years, Wreaths Across America was born, enabling wreath ceremonies to be hosted across the nation. Over 100,000 wreaths will be laid on the memorials of military heroes this year as part of the initiative.

“Sept. 11 was our darkest day,” said Fire Department of New York Commissioner Salvatore Cassano. “It was also our proudest day. The numbers are well known but still shocking even 10 years later. We lost 342 members of the department. Everyone on the job lost a friend. I lost my closest friends that day, and nobody was unaffected.”

“Almost 10 years later, I’m proud to say that the department is better prepared, better trained, and better equipped than ever,” added the commissioner.

Cassano had joined the Army in 1965 and completed a tour of Vietnam before coming home to become a fire fighter.

He read a proclamation by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, which declared Dec. 11 the Wreaths Across America Day and encouraged all New Yorkers to reflect on the selflessness of the heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

“I get choked up when they talk about it and the sacrifices that people have made,” said Keith Ouellette, a veteran and manager for Wal-Mart, which supplied the wreaths for the nationwide event.

Battery Park hosts numerous memorials in honor of fallen soldiers, including the Admiral George Dewey Memorial, the New York Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Castle Clinton National Monument to name a few.

“Next year, 2011, will be the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty,” said Vince McGowan, president of the United War Veterans Council. “It warms my heart to come down here to historic Battery Park to visit what Americans in so many areas take for granted. Our liberty is something that has a cost to be paid, our liberty is something that we must be committed to defend every day of the week.”