ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT -- A large gathering of present and former servicemembers, military spouses, families and members of the community were present Dec. 10 to witness the first Wreaths Across America event at the Military Cemetery on McClellan.
The Fort McClellan Military Cemetery Wreaths Committee was responsible for bringing the Wreaths Across America program, which decorated headstones of veterans throughout the U.S. during the Christmas holidays for 20 years, to Anniston.
Six Girl Scout troops, five Boy Scout troops and the Calhoun County Extension Service's 4H Green Team placed a wreath at each of the 355 graves. The Green Team will return after the holidays to retrieve each wreath for proper disposal.
"They dedicated their lives for service. We can remember them for that service," said Col. Timothy Sullivan, commander of Anniston Army Depot, who spoke at the ceremony.
Sullivan reflected in his remarks on cadets at West Point for whom General Douglas McArthur defined a Soldier.
"Their story is known to all of you. It is the story of the American man at arms. My estimate of him was formed on the battlefields many, many years ago, and has never changed. I regarded him then, as I regard him now, as one of the world's noblest figures; not only as one of the finest military characters, but also as one of the most stainless," said Sullivan in quoting McArthur.
McClellan now joins the rolls of over 600 Wreaths Across America sites, including Arlington National Cemetery, where the program began in 1992 when Maine businessman Morrill Worcester arranged for the placement of 5,000 wreaths created by his company.
Social Sharing