A Christmas tradition that honors U.S. veterans who are buried Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City happened Saturday morning, with hundreds paying their respects by placing wreaths on headstones and markers.
The Wreaths Across America event is celebrated nationally and organized locally by Carson City Composite Squadron PCR-NV-047, Civil Air Patrol. It also comes on the day of the anniversary of the U.S. National Guard.
Sunshine and unseasonably warm December temperatures greeted local organizations, families, children, parents and grandparents to the event.
First Lt. Phil Wells of the Civil Air Patrol opened the ceremony followed by blessings from Pastor Patrick Propster and guest speaker remarks by Capt. Emerson Marcus, public affairs officer for the Nevada Army National Guard.
Lt. Wells acknowledged the large turnout, the sunny skies and warm temperatures, compared to previous years where the cemetery had snow and conditions were cold. He said the wreaths were donated, and hoped that next year there would be even more wreath donations.
Propster, who is a pastor of Calvary Chapel Carson City Christian Fellowship, encouraged people to speak out the names of persons on the headstones and markers as they put down their wreaths.
“I’m always mindful of the Gettysburg Address and that ‘what we say here today will be remembered, but what they did, will,'” said Propster.
Marcus acknowledged this year’s Wreaths Across America theme of moving forward and recognizing the past and given that it is the National Guard’s 389th birthday, he provided a brief history, explaining that the origin dates back 140 years prior to the nation’s independence, where it previously was called the colonial militia and then the state militia, before becoming the National Guard. He also spoke of the history of the National Guard in Nevada throughout the years.
Following his remarks, the wreaths were spread throughout the cemetery, where veterans have been laid to rest. Today, Lone Mountain Cemetery contains the resting places for veterans from the Civil War to present. There are more than 1,800 veterans at Lone Mountain Cemetery.
Among those families who attended were Rachel Adkins and her mother Rebecca McBean Coffin, a U.S. Veteran of Desert Storm and McBean’s grandchildren Joseph Adkins, 4, Benjamin Adkins, 7 and Brendan Decker, 8.
Rachel Adkins said she brought her children and nephew to the event because “I want them to be part of the community and get involved, and for veterans like my Mom, it is important.”
Adkins mother, Rebecca McBean Coffin added, “I want them to learn how to respect those who gave their life for our country and to never forget.”
This event is part of the Season of Giving in Carson City. Want to learn more about how you can give back this holiday season to your community? Visit our Season of Giving main hub below!
