Record crowd turns out for WAA

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Ideal weather helped draw a record crowd to the 2015 Wreaths Across America (WAA) Saturday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery to honor veterans who have lost their lives, been prisoners of war or missing in action or have served their country in military service. It was the tenth year the program has been held at the cemetery, and the eighth consecutive year that enough money has been raised to place a wreath of every grave in the cemetery. An estimated crowd of 750 attended the event.

Patriot Guard Rider Randy Dunn again served as master of ceremonies, the role he has filled for all 10 years of the program. The ceremony was one of many held across the country and in some U.S. territories to honor veterans who have served their country. Wreaths Across America was started by Morrill Worcester who owns Worcester Wreath Company in Herrington, Maine, which provides the wreaths for the ceremony.

The wreaths are purchased through the support of businesses, churches, schools and members of the community. Worcester Wreath Company provided the seven ceremonial wreaths that were placed during the ceremony honoring each branch of the military.

The main part of the program was laying the seven ceremonial wreaths for each branch of the military, plus the POWs/MIAs. The ceremony coincides with the laying of the ceremonial wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Ceremonial wreaths were placed at more than 550 locations in the United States, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. Ceremonies at all locations were held at noon Eastern Time for Wreaths Across America

Those placing the ceremonial wreaths were Ret. Sgt. First Class Gary Kitchen for the Army, Ret. Capt. Tom Love for the U.S. Marine Corps, Ret. U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Carl Bess for the Navy, Cpt. Mike Williams for the U.S. Air Force, Ret. SW04 Justin Baker for the Coast Guard, First Lt. U.S. Army Ret. Scott Payne for the Merchant Marine and former Sgt. Roy Rhodes for the POW/MIAs.

Pastor Ronnie Stevens with the First General Baptist Church provided the invocation and benediction. Kara King performed the National Anthem. The Stoddard County Honor Guard provided the firing volley and finished the program with Taps.

Veterans Cemetery Director Ken Swearengin presented a plaque to Dunn honoring him for his contribution to WAA at Bloomfield. Swearengin said Dunn started the program at the Bloomfield cemetery 10 years ago, and it was his vision to see that all veterans buried in the cemetery would receive a wreath as part of the national program. Swearengin thanked Dunn for his commitment and contributions to making the program such a success.

Swearengin also presented a plaque to Teresa Wright Williams who has served as the fundraising chair for the program for most of the 10 years of the program. Williams has led the effort to raise local funds to assure that there are enough wreaths for every grave at the cemetery.

The program ended with families and friends disbursing across the cemetery to lay the wreaths.