Wreaths Across America Delivery Made On Wednesday; Solemn Ceremony And Wreath Laying Will Take Place On Saturday
2021 Delivery: Wreaths Across America
This Saturday (December 18th), the Clarion Community will take part in the Wreaths Across America project, which is dedicated to placing wreaths on the graves of every veteran. This event, which is held “each December, on National Wreaths Across America Day . . . is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 3,000 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad”.
The Ceremony and wreath laying will begin at noon, at the Clarion and Immaculate Conception Cemeteries, on Second Avenue in Clarion. The solemn, patriotic ceremony and wreath laying at veteran’s graves, held in conjunction with Wreaths Across America events across the country, will take place at noon, on Saturday at the Clarion and Immaculate Cemeteries. The ceremony is expected to last about a half hour.
Clarion’s 2021 Wreaths Across America’s wreath shipment (over 1,800, enough for every Veteran’s grave), which originated from the farm and wreath facility in Columbia, Maine, arrived in Clarion with an escort by the Limestone Volunteer Fire Company, the Strattanville Volunteer Fire Department and Clarion Fire & Hose Company No.1, on Wednesday (December 15th).
The escort stopped in front of the Immaculate Conception Church and School on Main Street, where well-wishers, including Clarion County WAA coordinator Noreen Shirey and Clarion Clarion County DAR Regent Joan Kriebel, gathered to welcome driver Chuck Andrews and his dog Lucy, his traveling companion. Clarion Fire & Hose No 1 had their huge American Flag flying from their hook and ladder truck, with other American Flags lining both sides of the street, for blocks.
The faculty, staff and student body gathered with the first responders in front of the school. The students sang happy birthday to Lucy, in honor of her big day. Many of the students, faculty, first responders and others signed the WAA Banner on the grill of the truck.
After leaving Immaculate Conception, the caravan headed to Second Avenue, where the wreaths for the two Clarion cemeteries were off-loaded to pickups and trailers and transported to the cemetery garage.
Chuck had this to say, “Clarion is just like the coolest small town in the world. Noreen has set this whole operation here, with Wreaths Across America, on fire across Western PA. The number of cemeteries – she’s just blown it away. It’s amazing, it’s phenomenal. I love coming here.
“Next year it’s going to be even bigger than this year. We’ve already gotten next year’s planning (started). It is a joy to come here. It is a joy to work with this lady. She is just incredible. Just an incredible family, doing incredibly great things here. So, I really love coming down here. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than to come here.”
Chuck has a wreath on the grill of his truck, which has special significance. “That’s for my stepdad. I call him Pop. Pop passed away about four years ago, December 17th, 2017. We lost Pop and that’s his wreath on the front of the truck. John Generous, he was a generous guy.”
And there is a special meaning on this year’s banner, as well. Chuck explained, ” . . . I have a new banner every year for the run. And everybody I encounter on my trip, I have them autograph it. On the bottom of the banner thirteen soldiers are memorialized. This will be their first wreath this year, the thirteen soldiers we lost in Afghanistan, just a few months ago.”
This is a long day for Chuck. “This is my biggest day trucking for a year and this is my biggest day on the wreaths. I have ten stops total. We’ll get eight or nine in today and then tomorrow’s an easy day. The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies is my last stop, I’ll be done there. It’s a good event, good to be here. I love all the people. I just realized going through the paperwork, Noreen is getting two-hundred and ten boxes here today.”
Noreen shared, “This is the third year for Wreaths Across America in Clarion and we are definitely taking over Western Pennsylvania. We increased here from two cemeteries, Clarion and I-C, to include also Tylersburg, New Rehobeth, Frogtown, Seceder, Strattanville Memorial, Strattanville Centenial, Limestone, Churchville, Licking, Fisher Methodist and Fisher Presbyterian, for a total of fourteen. So, we’ve increased from 1,050 Veterans to over 1,800.
“We had a lot of Co-coordinators this year, that were willing to bring this to their own cemeteries. A lot of help out here, today; couldn’t do it without Clarion Fire and Limestone Fire. They do an excellent job, helping me organize and keeping everything under control.
“We thank our driver, Chuck. This is his third year with us. He makes it all happen and gets us all the wreaths we need. And we just really enjoy working with him and the Wreaths Across America organization, in general, are amazing, work tirelessly to make sure all the wreaths get covered at Arlington. And the cemeteries, nationally, that participate in this program are now over 3,000. It increases exponentially every year. ”
And as for the ceremony itself, “The ceremony is here, this Saturday, at Second Avenue, by the monument. Parking is extremely limited, so be careful coming, ride share if at all possible. The weather’s supposed to be rainy, but we are hoping to get everybody out. We’ll be leaving from the ceremony here in Clarion, to disperse to all the other locations, to lay the rest of their wreaths after that.”
“There is also a new cemetery associated in New Bethlehem. There are four in the Parker area. I think Romayne McGinnis added four more in Knox. They already had ten. And Rimersburg already has ten. So, we are taking over. There’s some in Eau Claire now and also down in Emlenton, and Venango County. We’re putting Western Pennsylvania on the map for this mission to honor and remember our Veterans. One of his (Chuck’s) stops when he leaves here is East Brady. It’s changed hands and I do believe they are working to get all the Veterans’ wreaths, this year. I don’t know if they made it, but they are trying. East Brady is still involved, and I believe there are two in Butler. We’re just really sprouting up everywhere.”
And Saturday’s event. “Special shout out to Erin Lewis who is singing the National Anthem for us and Scott DiTullio who is going to play taps. And of course, Monique Nellis from Heavenly Gates Riding in Knox. She’ll be bringing Triton. And Triton’s going to be led up Second Avenue for the Riderless Horse… He will be led this year by Dianna Hilliard.
“(Clarion Borough Police Officer and Clarion County Sherriff elect) Shawn Zerfoss is one of the speakers. Lenny Bashline is a speaker and Richard Weaver will also be speaking.
“The ceremony will only last about half an hour, but we are going to get to pay tribute to a lot of Veterans. And the people who are speaking and the people who are placing those wreaths, their accolades in their bios are astounding, some of those things that they’ve accomplished in their military careers will boggle your mind.”
The outreach to the county is continually growing. Noreen said, “Everything is going good. We’re gearing up for next year. We’re going to sign up Asbury Church also.”
Local groups can get involved and help their own cause, as well. “We’re looking for groups wanting to raise money for funds. It’s an excellent opportunity. Every wreath you sell is worth $5.00 toward your group. So we encourage you to get involved, especially our youth.”
Noreen shared, “The mission is “Remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the next generation.” That’s what this is all about, thanking our Veterans and their families for their sacrifice and their service. We wouldn’t have what we do now, if it wasn’t for them. This is our way of showing our appreciation for the family member, that is no longer there with them, especially during the Holiday season which is the hardest.”
Please make it a point to come out and honor our deceased Clarion County Veterans at one of the events in your area.
Thank you to Noreen, Chuck and all those involved in this great project!!!!
(Covid warning in place at Clarion and I-C Cemeteries. attend at your own risk)