Home » VIDEO: Holiday Wreaths Honor Veterans At Cape Canaveral National Cemetery

VIDEO: Holiday Wreaths Honor Veterans At Cape Canaveral National Cemetery

By  //  December 20, 2016

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11th year of Wreaths Across America

ABOVE VIDEO: Two years ago, during the burial at Arlington of Lieutenant Colonel Sylvester Merritt, his wife, Cozette, noticed a woman standing as silent witness during the solemn ceremony. When Merritt learned of the opening of the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, she wanted to start in Brevard an organization similar to the Arlington Ladies, to gather a group of volunteers to pay final tribute to veterans buried at the new cemetery.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Volunteers placed holiday wreaths to honor and remember our nation’s Veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Cape Canaveral National Cemetery today.

“These wreath laying ceremonies help us continue the mission of maintaining national cemeteries as national shrines, sacred to the honor and memory of those interred or memorialized here,” said cemetery director Don Murphy.

“It is a great way for the community to come together to pay our respects during the holiday season.”

The organization arranges the wreath-laying ceremony with assistance from local citizens and other Veterans service organizations as a part of Wreaths Across America.

All 135 VA national cemeteries receive at least seven wreaths, one for each service branch, one for the Merchant Marines and one for Prisoners of War and those Missing In Action (POW/MIA).

This is the 11th year of Wreaths Across America, a nationwide program which distributes holiday wreaths as a tribute to Veterans laid to rest at VA national cemeteries and state Veterans cemeteries.

VIDEO: Cape Canaveral Ladies Honor Veterans, Offer Comfort and Condolences To Grieving FamiliesRelated Story:
VIDEO: Cape Canaveral Ladies Honor Veterans, Offer Comfort and Condolences To Grieving Families

It is also the 25th year that the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, have provided holiday wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery.

Through this program, company president Morrill Worcester seeks to recognize Veterans, active duty military and their families. His goal is to remind the public to remember the Veterans, honor their service, and teach children the value of freedom.

For more information about this event, call the cemetery administration office at 321-383-2638 or visit the National Cemetery Administration website at CEM.va.gov

Volunteers placed holiday wreaths to honor and remember our nation’s Veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Cape Canaveral National Cemetery today.