Winter Park cemeteries host Wreaths Across America events to honor veterans

Two Winter Park cemeteries joined about 1,400 others throughout the nation Dec. 15 to honor those who have served the United States.

Palm Cemetery and Pineywood Cemetery both hosted emotional public ceremonies to honor deceased veterans through the Wreaths Across America Program.

The organization allows the public to sponsor wreaths for veterans through a donation online. Wreaths are then sent across the country to participating cemeteries on National Wreaths Across America Day (the third Saturday in December).

Both Winter Park ceremonies were orchestrated by the William P. Duval Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution — 79 wreaths were placed at Palm Cemetery, and 22 at Pineywood Cemetery.

“It was very important, because our veterans and our military are the reason that we have everything that we have,” DAR member and Wreaths Across America Location Coordinator Eloise Carter said. “Everything that we do every day is because of the sacrifices that they’ve made. I come from a family with military. My father and his two brothers served in World War II, and another uncle served in World War II, and my mother’s only brother served in World War II.”

This was the chapter’s first time participating in Wreaths Across America, DAR member and Vice Regent Ann Maner said.

“I hope we will do it every year,” she said. “It was very moving to see strangers come in and (honor the veterans).”

Saturday’s ceremony included a speech by emcee Katie Campbell, a presentation of the nation’s colors by the American Legion Post 286 Color Guard, a playing of taps, a placing of wreaths for each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and an opportunity for volunteers and attendees to place wreaths at the cemetery to honor the deceased veterans buried there.

That’s what brought Robert Cordero and his family to the ceremony. It’s important to instill the values of honor and respect in children at an early age, he said.

“When I saw the event online and my friends explained it to me, it was just something that I knew I wanted to do with my kids,” he said. “It’s critical — it grounds you. It lets you understand the bigger picture of things. It lets you understand that it’s not just the soldiers; it’s their families, as well. It’s the sacrifices they’ve made. … You want to do something and pay it back. I want to pass this on to future generations. I want to show them the way to be respectful, the way to honor and respect our country.”

Martin Cook, of American Legion Post 286, also was moved by the ceremony.

“It was my honor for doing it,” said Cook, who served in the First Gulf War with the U.S. Air Force. “I’m a veteran, and it’s nice to serve other veterans. I don’t know if some of these gentlemen passed away during combat or died of old age. But one way or another, they’re all veterans and they need to be taken care of. That’s why I’m on the honor guard — to do my part to help fellow veterans.”