Local Veterans lay wreaths and gift Veterans’ families

Each year, families gather for the holidays in celebratory fashion with good food and gifts. Some families, however, find themselves grieving lost loved ones or commemorating their lives instead. Military families around the country often find themselves both celebrating and commemorating. Veterans’ organizations count themselves among those military families. Therefore, a group of local veterans makes it their holiday mission to lay wreaths at the tombs of deceased service members, paying tribute to their lives and sacrifices each year. For this year, representatives of two local veterans’ organizations joined for the effort.

On Wednesday, December 14, a small group of local veterans and family members gathered to lay wreaths on around 500 graves of perished servicemen and women at the Bristow City Cemetery. Representing American Legion family organizations, Alex Fernandez, Robert Mason, and Pam Hall joined Veterans of Foreign Wars representative Robert Leach in laying the wreaths. Neither December wind nor chill could have stopped them from honoring their comrades.

In addition to laying the wreaths this Christmas, the American Legion purchased food items and gifted ten veterans’ families with food baskets last Saturday, December 17. Each basket contained a turkey, rolls, pumpkin pie and whipped cream, cans of corn and green beans, dressing, turkey gravy, and a five-pound bag of potatoes. The Legion organizations also presented three families with gifts and bicycles for Christmas to honor them and elevate their holiday season.

The American Legion encourages the community to honor veterans, visit with and learn about their service, sacrifices, and needs, and visit the cemetery, taking a moment to reflect on how Americans’ lives and freedoms were built and are secured by the sacrifices and commitment of all who serve and have served.