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Honoring those who served...
A small group of people gathered at Mountain View Cemetery on Saturday to pay tribute to military service members across the United States as part of a coordinated, nationwide observance.
At exactly 10 a.m. that day, veterans in the Mountain Home community took part in an event that simultaneously began at more than 900 of locations in all 50 states and 24 national cemeteries on foreign soil as part of year's Wreaths Across America Day observance.
Representatives from the American Legion posts here were among the thousands of volunteers that placed hundreds of thousands of wreaths during these observances. Wreaths Across America formed to honor the fallen, said Tom Narramore, who served as the event's guest speaker.
Those who died in service to this nation, "gave up their tomorrows with family and loved ones so that we can enjoy our freedom," he said.
"We are gathered here today at this memorial site and memorial sites all across America to remember that we are one nation with one flag," said Troy Wilkins, a spokesman with American Legion Post 26 in Mountain Home. "We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people, many races, from many walks of life."
The freedoms Americans enjoy today came with a price, Wilkins emphasized. It was paid by the men and women in uniform who gave their lives so others could live in freedom and without fear.
"The United States of America was founded on the ideals of freedom, justice and equality," Wilkins added. "Our nation stands as a shining beacon of liberty and freedom to the world. We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free and we shall not forget you. We shall remember."
America remains the first nation on Earth to stand up for the freedom of people from around the world, said Wilkins as he recognized a number of veterans present at Saturday's ceremony.
"These men and women are part of the best-trained, best-equipped force in the world," Wilkins said. "We honor them and their families for the sacrifices they make each day to keep our country safe from terrorism, hatred and injustice that plague the world community."
He then urged those in the community to take a moment when they see a veteran and to say "thank you" in recognition for the sacrifices they and their families paid.
"We owe them our way of life, and a moment of your time is well spent," Wilkins said.
Celebrating its seventh anniversary in Mountain Home, Wreaths Across America focused on three goals -- remembering the nation's fallen veterans, honoring those who currently serve in harm's way and to teach children the price these men and women pay in the defense of freedom. While Veterans Day and Memorial Day are set aside to remember those who perished in service to their country, it's important that the nation not confine its efforts to remember our nation's heroes to just two days a year, officials with the national organization emphasized.
During the ceremony, members from local veterans organizations stepped forward to place the specially designated wreaths in front of flags representing the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine as well as current and former prisoners of war and those still missing in action.
Those wreaths also represent the nation's commitment as a united America to remember the fallen, according to Wilkins.
In his closing comments, Wilkins quoted former President Ronald Reagan, who emphasized that freedom is never guaranteed.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction," Reagan said. "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."
Saturday's nationwide event carried on a tradition originally known as the Arlington Wreath Program that was started by Morrill Worcester. His legacy began during his first visit to Arlington National Cemetery when he was 12 years old.
In 1992, Worcester donated and helped lay 5,000 Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery.
The yearly wreath laying remained a relatively obscure event until 2005 when a photo of the stones adorned with wreaths and covered in snow circulated around the Internet, according to a statement from the national organization.
"Wreaths Across America Foundation presented its one millionth wreath to the mother of an Army captain killed in Afghanistan," Narramore said. "She spoke of the ceremony's event saying, 'Some day, when the words and his name are all worn off, there still will be someone who will come by and pay their respects in my son's memory.' "
Each wreath represents the faith of each veteran and the love for one another, Narramore added.
"As a whole, it stands for honor, respect and victory," he said.
"We also want these remembrance wreaths to symbolize our honor to those who have served and are serving in the armed forces of our great nation and to their families who endure sacrifices every day on our behalf," Wilkins added. "As a nation standing together, we can defeat terrorism, hatred and injustice. Thanks to our veterans, we have the freedom to do just that."