National Wreaths Across America Day remembrance held at Coral Ridge
Approximately 200 participants pay homage to deceased veterans
Area residents paid homage to veterans Saturday by taking part in a remembrance held annually nationwide.
An estimated 200 attendees placed both Christmas wreaths and American flags next to each veteran’s headstone in the military sections of the Coral Ridge Cemetery as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.
This coordinated event, recognized by Congress in 2008, takes place each December. The event is intended to express gratitude and remembrance to both veterans and their families for the freedoms military service members ensure for fellow Americans.
Annette Warren, an Air Force veteran who served a stint in The United Arab Emirates, was one of the last four community members to leave Coral Ridge Cemetery Saturday afternoon. She had placed a wreath over the grave of World War II veteran Anthony Galante.
“Each of us who placed a wreath today spoke the person’s name and offered a gentle hand salute,” Warren said. “Today was a day for us to pause and remember the life of this veteran or veteran’s spouse.”
Galante was the uncle of one of Warren’s friends. Placing a wreath and flag over the grave from a member of the Greatest Generation was especially poignant.
Warren’s husband, Chuck Warren, also a veteran, placed his wreath and flag over the gravesite of World War II veteran Lawrence Schuman. Chuck Warren said it was important to him to honor a veteran of such a historically significant war.
Wreaths Across America seeks to ensure that the efforts of America’s veterans are never forgotten.
The original wreath-laying ceremony occurred at Arlington National Cemetery, begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. Currently, the wreaths placed in Coral Ridge Cemetery — and participating cemeteries nationwide – are still manufactured in Maine. Paul Gales, funeral director and embalmer at Coral Ridge Cemetery, said this year’s wreaths arrived in Cape Coral last Wednesday. “One hundred percent of the wreaths we received were purchased by generous donations,” Gales said. “We received 1,300 wreaths this year. Some were donated individually and other wreaths were purchased in bulk by donors.”
According to the website www.wreathsacrossamerica.org, each wreath, a 22-inch evergreen creation formed by fresh Maine balsam and and adorned by simple red ribbon, cost $17.
The theme for 2025 was “Keep Moving Forward.”
Gales said that the wreaths would remain atop the graves in Coral Ridge Cemetery until Jan.10.
To reach CASEY BRADLEY GENT, please email news@breezenewspapers.com