- December 23, 2024
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Bob Richardson is accompanied by Arthur Shults and Steve Rounds as he lays the Wreath at the base of the US Coast Guards flag at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Steve Wolfe (67) place a wreath on a soldier's grave at Hillside Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Capt. James Ormond Daughters of the America Revolution Chapter members at Hillside Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Linda Petrie (75) places a wreath on a veterans grave at Hillside Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Karen Grienen and Husband place a wreath on a grave at Hillside Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Rondald L Boisvert stands in silence behind the Navy's wreath at Hillside Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Ashley Marie Ellis stands behind the Army wreath after presenting it at Hillside Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington dedicates the day Wreaths Across America Day for Ormond Beach at Hillside Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Linda Petrie (75), Susan Barry (75) and Diana Zimmerman (70) thank the veteran after placing a wreath on the grave at Hillside Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Brian Carter and Gary Benson look over the crowd gathered at Volusia Memorial Park for the Wreaths Across America service on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Gary Benson opens the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Girl Scouts await to help with the ceremonial wreath laying during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The American Legion Honor Guard Post 120 presents the colors during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Location Coordinator Brian Carter speaks during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Bear Cub Scout Gabriel Palmer and Gary Benson lay a ceremonial wreath during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Lion Cub Scout Caleb Thomas, Bear Cub Scout Gabriel Palmer and Janie Rocke lay a ceremonial wreath during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The American Legion Honor Guard performs the 21 gun salute during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Joyce Zuccaro Vernon lays a wreath on her father's grave, a World War II vet, during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Troop 711 Girl Scouts Samantha Gilliard, Kate Gilliard, Raelynn Crawford, and Quinlee Anderson, with Danielle Gilliard, lay wreaths on veterans' graves at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Patty and Enso Hoolehan participate in the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Sherman Burres lays a wreath on a veteran's grave during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Mark Wiemelt salutes a veteran's grave during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Andrea Rocke lays a wreath on a veteran's grave during the Wreaths Across America service at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Bill Hollad starts the Wreaths Across America Ceremony at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery with a few words. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Speaker James Griswold addresses attendees about the Wreaths Across America presentation at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
A member of the Coastal Florida Police and Fire Pipes and Drums play the bagpipes at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Suzanne O'Meally (71) and husband John O'Meally (73) watch the ceremony at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Gold Star Mother Cathy Heighter stands in silence after placing the wreath at the base of the Nations flag at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Virgina Nowakowski (65) carries wreaths to the many graves of soldiers at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
A couple salutes the solder after placing a wreath on the grave at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Carol Sanker (82) places a wreath on a soldier's grave at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
Sandi Walker (75) lays a wreath on a veterans grave at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery. Photo by Jake Montgomery
A moment of silence was observed at Volusia Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 17, as people bowed their heads, the sound of passing cars on the nearby road echoing through the cemetery.
The annual Wreaths Across America ceremony was one of over 3,400 held throughout the U.S. to thank and honor deceased veterans and their families. Similar moments of silence were observed at ceremonies held at nearby Hillside Cemetery and Oak Ridge Cemetery in Ormond Beach, and at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery in Flagler Beach.
"There are millions of Americans gathering safely as one nation to remember, honor and teach," said Brian Carter, Wreaths Across America location coordinator at Volusia Memorial Park. "We're all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people, from many walks of life. The freedom we enjoy today has not come without a price — lying here before us in this cemetery, and throughout the nation, are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live free, without fear."
About 2,500 balsam wreaths were laid on veterans' graves at Volusia Memorial Park in Ormond Beach, costing around $30,000, and funded thanks to a year-long donation effort by the Sons of The American Legion Squadron 120.
New this year to the ceremonies was the addition of a ceremonial wreath for the U.S. Space Force.
At Hillside Cemetery, Dee Clark, Wreaths Across America co-chair for the Capt. James Ormond Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, reminded participants that they were not there to "decorate graves."
"We are here to remember not their deaths, but their lives," Clark said. "Each wreath is a gift of appreciation from a grateful America."
The DAR presented wreaths on 145 soldier's graves at Hillside. The Oak Ridge cemetery ceremony was presented by the Vietnam Veterans of America Daytona Beach Chapter 1048. The ceremony at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Cemetery honored over 400 veterans.
Jake Montgomery contributed to this story.
