"Beauty and dignity" - TACOM at 2023 Wreaths Across America

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Dec. 16, 2023 – Members of the armed service community gathered in Clinton Township, Michigan this weekend to join Americans around the country in honoring fallen servicemembers on the annual commemoration of Wreaths Across America day.

Representing U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Brig. Gen. Michael Lalor, commanding general of TACOM, spoke at the event, noting that “… what days like today are for is to remind us to spend a moment with those we’ve lost, in the spirit of this season of togetherness.”

The annual event drew a crowd of several hundred members of the local community, including several Veterans organizations, civil society groups and community leaders. The ceremony featured the recognition of living service members and the contributions they continue to make to their communities and other Veterans.

Lalor stated that “the contributions of our Veteran and Gold Star community are immense. We see examples of their work every day, including in events like this that honor the sacrifice that our fallen and our Survivor Families have made.”

The Wreaths Across America event saw several thousand wreaths distributed at the Resurrection Cemetery in the Detroit suburbs, with each wreath adorning a deceased service member’s grave. The point, as event organizer Karen Straffon said, was to preserve the memory of those lost, and to teach the new generation the meaning of their work.

“We want to make sure that these men and women do not die a second death – that their memory does not fade away with their passing,” said Straffon. “Seeing each of you here today helps make sure that they will not be forgotten. I hope that as you lay a wreath on a Veteran’s grave today, that you would take the time to be with them for a moment.”

Straffon’s comments were echoed by Lalor, who asked the audience to consider the meaning of the day.

“Today, we take the time to honor the fallen and celebrate those who, in life, continue to do honor to their legacy. As we lay these wreaths on their graves today, I hope that each of us will do just that,” said Lalor.

He added “These wreaths bring a certain beauty and dignity. But to truly honor these individuals is to spend a moment with them – to read their names and remember the friend, family member and neighbor that name represents. Let’s continue to make sure that these heroes are never forgotten – on this day and every day.”