"Wreaths Across America"

What started in 1992 with a trailer load of wreaths decorated by volunteers, has now become a way for people to honor and remember fallen soldiers, as well as honor those service men and women who are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is a way to teach about freedom and how we obtain it and how it is kept. Today our family (Benjamin specifically) participated in this project.

This morning we arrived at the Camp Williams Cemetery during a horizontal snowstorm to participate in the days events. It started with a program full of speakers and some musical numbers by a children's choir. One song that touched me was "God Bless America". It was beautiful and of course brought tears to my eyes. I am a very patriotic person and almost anything patriotic brings on the water.

It was a new and great way to spend a Saturday morning. Wreaths across America takes place today nationwide. After the program, Benjamin (cadet Paxman) and other members of the Utah Wing Civil Air Patrol placed wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers. Civilians or family members of the fallen soldier were allowed to place a wreath if they chose. All that was asked, is that after you placed the wreath, you wrote the name of the fallen soldier who is buried there down, went home and looked him up on the Internet and took a moment to remember him and his sacrifice for our country.

A flag for each branch of the United States Military was represented during the program. During which time members in the audience with family serving or having served in that branch stood to honor that flag.

Benjamin held the flag representing the Coast Guard.

Benjamin placing a wreath....

and all is still.....except the falling snow.

It felt appropriate.

Cadet Paxman saluting the fallen soldier.

Cadet Benjamin Paxman writing down the name of the of the fallen soldier on whose
grave he placed a wreath.

It was a very patriotic and memorable moment for our family to watch our 15 year old son salute a fallen soldier who sacrificed his life for the country in which we live.


"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."