Remember, Honor, Teach Published Dec. 17, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Laura R. McFarlane 17th Training Wing Public Affairs SAN ANGELO, Texas -- In cemeteries across the nation Dec. 14, volunteers, service members and family members gathered together for the Wreaths Across America Ceremony to honor those who have gone before. What began as a small tribute to those laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery has blossomed into an event around the country and overseas. According to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org, in 1992, the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, found themselves with a surplus of wreaths. Morrill Worcester, owner of the company, remembered a trip he had as a young boy to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. and realized he had a way to honor the nation's veterans by the placing wreaths on their grave stones. With the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, the process of getting the wreaths from Maine to Arlington began. Once they arrived, the wreaths were placed in one of the older sections at Arlington that was receiving fewer visitors each year. This remained a quiet event until 2005, when a photo of the wreaths at Arlington hit the internet and thousands of requests poured in from people who wanted to help and copy the Arlington project at National and state cemeteries. The Worcester family, veterans, individuals and various groups who had contributed over the years formed WAA in 2007. The mission of WAA is "Remember, Honor, Teach." Remember the Fallen, honor those who serve and teach our children the value of freedom. Eight years later, at 11 a.m. local, synchronized with the ceremony at Arlington, the San Angelo Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol hosted the local WAA ceremony at Belvedere Cemetery attended by San Angelo residents and Goodfellow Air Force Base members. The ceremony began with a moment of silence, followed by the presentation of the colors by the Goodfellow Joint Service Color Guard and the playing of the national anthem. During the ceremony, Goodfellow members from each branch of the military placed wreaths at the base of the flagpole to honor deceased service members. Charlotte Farmer, San Angelo District 6 council member, spoke after the wreath ceremonial placement at the flagpole. "I ask everyone to remember those here on these grounds that fought and died for us and those who wear the uniform and serve for us, for our lifestyle," said Farmer. "We need to practice to be a little more friendly, to live in peace, and to work solutions and let the members that wear the uniform do our fighting for us. That is the sacrifice they make for us." The ceremony ended with the bagpipe playing of Amazing Grace and Taps by Chris Morgan from Fort Concho. After the ceremony, attendees were given the opportunity to place wreaths on the graves. Col. Brendon Harris, 17th Training Group Commander, placed a wreath on the grave of Army Sgt. 1st Class Finnis McCleery, a Medal of Honor recipient. According to www.thetexasspirit.org, McCleery was wounded twice during attacks on North Vietnamese strongholds on Hill 352, located near Tamy Ky in the Quang Tin Province when McCleery's platoon came under heavy enemy fire. His efforts succeeded in destroying the bunkers and allowing the platoon to proceed. "My family and I found Mr. McCleery's grave and tombstone during last year's Wreaths Across America event, and were honored to place another wreath there again this year to remember a man who served bravely -- above the call of duty, earning the Medal of Honor -- left the Service to return back to his native San Angelo, and rests for eternity in an unassuming grave," said Harris. "Though he earned our Nation's highest decoration he'll more likely be remembered as a husband, father of seven children, and grandfather and great grandfather to many more." More than 30 wreaths were laid on the graves at Belvedere to recognize the honor and sacrifice of service members. In the words of Ronald Reagan, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
