It began as a gloomy morning where a fog mist lingered through the West Point Cemetery until the sun broke through from the heavens to rain light on the participants at the 14th annual Wreaths Across America (WAA) event on Dec. 2.
In a display of generosity, numerous donors and volunteers came together this year to place 7,200 wreaths at each headstone and columbarium section throughout the cemetery. This heartfelt gesture serves as a tribute to the thousands of West Point graduates, family members and others who are laid to rest in this hallowed ground, allowing their memory to be honored and cherished.
“Ultimately, this event is about honoring and remembering those who served and those buried at West Point who have a special connection to all of us,” said Dr. Todd Crowder, Department of Physical Education professor and U.S. Military Academy WAA representative. “It is about us remembering, honoring and giving our efforts to recognize and thank those buried here. For me, it is about supporting the Gold Star families and those who have a personal connection to someone buried here, and to know they are not alone, and we remember their loved ones and we are here to assist to never forget them.”
The event started with a private ceremony that brought together 13 Gold Star families, approximately 35 individuals with special connections to those buried at West Point, and 14 USMA classes involved in the ceremony. Serving as the master of ceremonies, Crowder guided the gathering while USMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland presented a wreath to each family member or friend of a fallen graduate during the ceremony.
“The private ceremony is done apart from the general ceremony as many times family members liked to have some special time with their loved ones and we believe this is the best way to make that happen,” Crowder said.
Crowder stated about 400 participants or volunteers took part in the afternoon ceremony dedicated to placing wreaths at each headstone or columbarium section.
The day’s special significance was amplified by the involvement of many people, groups and organizations. The Cadet Glee Club provided their voices to sing the National Anthem and some holiday tunes. Adding to the ceremonial spirit, the James I. O’Neill High School’s Junior ROTC helped post and retire the Colors during the ceremony. Additionally, the Army West Point Women’s Rugby team along with cadets from 4th Regiment and the Black and Gold Sandhurst teams assisted in unloading the thousands of wreaths from the two tractor trailers.
Crowder mentioned several people who did an abundance of work behind the scenes to help support the efforts of Wreaths Across America to include Dan Adamcheck of Northeast Chevy, Mike Dimase of Marangi Disposal and the West Point Cemetery Director, Jen McSwain, and her staff for their “enthusiastic support and efforts.”
“Many people in a grass roots effort assisted us to reach our goal of covering the entire cemetery,” Crowder said. “Each year to reach that goal, we need $122,400 in donations to cover the cemetery.”
He said 100% of the money raised went to purchase the wreaths to go in the West Point Cemetery. Crowder recognized the individuals and groups who worked hard to raise the funds this year, which included Patricia Aumick, Judy Barila, Chevy Northeast Region, the Daughters of the U.S. Army-West Point, KPMG Montvale Veterans Network, Marangi Disposal, Diane Morris, New York Iron Workers Local #580, Orange and Rockland Utilities, JF Lamb Knights of Columbus #0665, Nicholas Codispoti, TD Bank, Karen Thompson, West Point Spouse’s Club, Williams Lumber, 1st Lt. Dennis Zilinski Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, ShopRite, Vietnam Veterans Tri-State Chapter #623, West Point Association of Graduates, and Jennifer and John Conklin.
Wreaths Across America started in 1992 and has grown to placing wreaths at graves at over 1,400 locations in all 50 U.S. states, veteran cemeteries in foreign lands and at sea.
Wreaths Across America at West Point can be credited to the dedicated efforts of Jackie and Dan McNally. Their collaboration with Crowder, a former coach in Army West Point Track and Field who had coached their son Daniel, a 2008 USMA graduate, during his cadet days, played a crucial role in getting the initiative off the ground.
Among the three of them, they set out on the mission to establish West Point as a WAA registered cemetery.
“It was linking the two missions of the establishments: Duty, Honor, Country and Remember, Honor, Teach,” Crowder said. “As group directors the relationship has been tremendous. In 2010, a small group of six people braved a driving snow and rainstorm to remember and pay respect at the graves at USMA. Approximately 70 wreaths were placed in the inaugural ceremony.”
From its humble beginnings at the academy, it has grown leaps and bounds, and Crowder said the attempts to capture the rich volunteer spirit is due to Jackie and Dan McNally as they “cultivated (WAA) through their tireless efforts to secure yearly funding for this event.”
“The McNally spirit along with the spirit I see displayed by our volunteers is only fitting as we remember and pay our respects to those buried at West Point,” Crowder said. “It is what we need to do – Remember, Honor, Teach by linking Duty, Honor, Country.”
WAA’s importance to Crowder
As the event has organically grown over the past 14 years via the spirit of the McNally’s, Crowder said the essence of the event is what they had envisioned – The spirit of true volunteering and remembering.
“Each year, when I see about 300-to-400-plus people with children come because they want to be here, to honor the people at West Point – that is what makes it so special to me,” Crowder said. “The connections the McNally’s and I have made through the years with our volunteer donors are so humbling and gratifying.”
What makes it personal to Crowder is it allows him to remember and honor Matthew Ferrara, a 2005 USMA graduate who was killed in Afghanistan, who he coached in track and field.
“I coached both Matthew and his brother Andy (USMA 2011 graduate) and worked with his brother Marcus (1997 USMA graduate), and I am very close to their parents and family,” Crowder said. “I know how much it means to the Ferrara family and me to remember and honor Matthew, so we wish to keep the spirit of that in our entire ceremony.”
Crowder said it has become “an especially important event in my life,” and he remembers many years ago when one of their first volunteers, a young student and friend of the McNally’s, Brenna Cavallaro, played Taps at the end of the wreath-laying ceremony.
“It was always so special. Brenna played for many years punctuated one year when Brenna informed her family that there was a possible conflict and said, ‘I will miss playing Taps at West Point,’” Crowder said. “At the time, Cadet Jalen Morgan volunteered and then played several years while always having such a neat spirit while playing.”
This year, they had challenges finding a volunteer to play Taps, and it was suggested to him to contact the West Point Band. The band was committed to its holiday program throughout the weekend, however, band member Master Sgt. Jeremy Wissner suggested in the “spirit of volunteerism” that his son, Owen, a sophomore at Cornwall Central High School, could perform Taps at the event.
“Aside from being touched by this and then talking to Owen, I stated to Owen and his family that this was the essence of what we hope to continue with this event,” Crowder said. “That is another reason this is so important to me with Remember, Honor, Teach and the spirit of giving and volunteering.”
During the private ceremony, Gold Star family members honored their fallen service members and USMA graduates. The graduates who were remembered this year by family and friends were Matt Carpenter, Jason Jones, Jaimie Leonard, Tom Martin, Joel Namy, Byron Plapp, Joseph Silva, Don Taylor, Thomas Surdyke, Lisa Vigna, Paul Voelke, Dennis Zilinski and Peter Zhu. During the public ceremony, there were seven service members who were also remembered and honored.
Over the years, people have asked Crowder, “What is the Why,” about the underlying motivation for his extensive participation in the WAA event. For him and the McNally’s, the essence lies in honoring Gold Star families and everyone attending with a connection to someone at West Point.
“It’s a special time to remember, honor and teach everyone the importance of volunteering and selfless service,” Crowder said. “I am humbled by the McNally’s, our countless volunteers and donors; it is a distinct honor to continue to carry on this ceremony and tradition for them.”
Coast Guard officer honors her brother, others at WAA
Carolyn Ziegler, a 2022 U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduate and currently a lieutenant junior grade cybersecurity officer with Coast Guard Sector New York working the maritime port in New York City, came to the academy Dec. 2 for the WAA to honor her brother and others who are buried at the West Point Cemetery.
Her brother, Michael Ziegler, graduated from West Point in 2013. An Infantry officer, he was stationed at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia, when he was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer.
“Thankfully, he was able to go to Walter Reed Hospital through the Wounded Warrior Project and he fought it for about a year and a half,” Ziegler said. “He was a true warrior in and out of uniform. He’s still my role model to this day, especially as I serve in the Coast Guard.”
Ziegler has been to West Point several times as five of her seven siblings, including Michael, graduated from West Point. However, this was the first time she came to West Point for WAA.
“My family always donates a wreath to this cause,” Ziegler said. “But I usually come on my own (not on WAA day) as I went on my own last year since I’ve been stationed in New York City.
“I’m blessed to be close by and I’ve always been able to visit him at least once a year,” she added. “But, this year, I’m actually here for volunteering for Wreaths Across America … I’m happy to see him again.”
However, this is not the first time she has been involved with Wreaths Across America. As a high school student and part of the Girl Scouts, she volunteered to place wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery during its annual event.
The Centerville, Virginia, native said this is a poignant ceremony for her and her family, as she placed a wreath at her brother’s headstone on their behalf while slowly wiping away the tears from her face.
“It means a lot to me, it means a lot to my family, it means a lot to everyone in the service, and also their military families – it’s beyond words,” Ziegler said. “For Wreaths Across America to do this to honor the military every single year, along with their families, it means the world to us.
“One day out of the year to gently think of the loved ones who have passed and who have served our nation proudly, and were, most importantly, good people in and out of uniform,” she added. “It means a lot and hopefully (WAA) will continue this tradition, and I will always support this cause. I appreciate them taking the time out of their day to help support the military.”
As Ziegler spent some time setting up her brother’s gravesite with a small Christmas tree and some festive plants and a red bow, she talked about how she supports the WAA organization and remembers what a “beautiful sight” it was to see all the wreaths placed at each gravesite at the Arlington National Cemetery, and how she is delighted to help volunteer this year.
“I’m glad to be participating in this again at West Point this time, and continue the tradition, to not only remember my brother, but remember all the people beside him who served proudly,” Ziegler said.
Ziegler said as she made countless visits to West Point over the years that “you really don’t understand what sacrifice means until your own brothers and sisters serve.”
“From a very young age, I looked up to my siblings,” said Ziegler, who is the youngest of her eight siblings. “From that point, I understood how much it means to be selfless because you don’t get to see them every day. You show your support and give them as much as they need … the military is tough work. There are tough days, but it’s the people who make it and the relationships you build and the country you serve that makes it special.”
Ziegler said it is important during the holidays to be selfless to this cause because when a wreath is placed on every single headstone, it is a reminder that “no one is forgotten.”
“It’s just a great thing where no one’s forgotten … everyone makes a difference,” Ziegler said. “It’s about continuing to take time out of your day to realize that everyone’s serving in some capacity. To recognize every single one of them … those who have passed and their families. For me, being able to not only come here for my brother, but also lay a wreath down to the person next to him where their family may not have been able to come today – it means a lot.”
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