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Patriot
Art Blackmore, veteran, looks up at the flag after helping set a wreath on the Pomfret common during the national Wreaths Across America event Dec. 15. More photos, page 6. Linda Lemmon photo.
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Above: Placing a wreath on the stand. Top right: Gertrude Lamp. Right: Art Blackmore.
Wreaths recall
veterans' sacrifices
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
At exactly noon Dec. 15 local residents and veterans joined the rest of the country in pausing to honor those who fought for America.
At the Wreaths Across America ceremony in Pomfret, veterans from all branches of the military took part in a hallowed ceremony. Representatives of each branch placed a wreath on a stand to honor those who fought for freedom. The wind-whipped cold could not diminish the warmth of the patriotism.
After a moment of silence, veterans and families were reminded that the U.S. is one nation with one flag. Many races and many walks of life in America would not have the freedoms they have without the price paid by those in the military.
"America is the first to stand up for people in need," those gathered were reminded. The mistress of ceremonies, from the Sarah Williams Daughters of the American Revolution, thanked each veteran, saying "It's an honor to know you."
Veterans attending the Pomfret event, one of several in northeastern Connecticut Dec. 15, included, by branch:
Army: Milton Rollison, Todd Smith, Bob McLaughlin, Bob Ellsworth. Navy: Ted Gellert, Armand Jolly, Dan Blackmore, Bud Peck, Cliff Buttermark, Gertrude Lamb, Jeff Driscoll, and Robert Laurendeau. Marines: Roger Mauer and Art Blackmore. Air Force: Ray Cutler Sr., Jim Platt and Paul Nelson. There was no representative from the Merchant Marines, nor was there a prisoner of war.
After the wreath hangings, Mauer thanked the DAR and the Wreaths Across America organizations. Maureen Nicholson, first selectperson of Pomfret, also thanked the DAR. She said, "It's an honor to be here with this distinguished group of people," adding that she was very appreciative of their sacrifice.
According to the organizations website, the Wreaths Across America program was started by Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine. When he was 12, he won a trip to Washington D.C. and saw Arlington National Cemetery. "This experience followed him throughout his life and successful career in business, reminding him that his good fortune was due, in large part, to the values of this nation and the Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. "
In 1992 Worcester Wreath had a surplus of wreaths and they were placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery, a section which had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year. Unable to donate thousands of wreaths to each state, Worcester began sending seven wreaths to every state, one for each branch of the military, and for POW/MIAs. In 2006, with the help of the Civil Air Patrol and other civic organizations, simultaneous wreath laying ceremonies were held at over 150 locations around the country. And each year the program gets bigger.