Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
At each site civilian volunteers placed a wreath and spent a moment with their hand over their heart as a gesture of respect.
On Friday, Dec. 13 to a 21-gun salute, representatives from the five branches of the Military hung wreaths at the five monuments at Freedom Plaza along with a wreath for the POW/MIA and the Merchant Marines.
On Saturday, Dec. 14 wreaths were laid at both Westside and Eastside Cemeteries. The guest Speaker at Westside was 21 year Navy Veteran Jason Stanley. Stanley said, "As you go about today placing these wreaths pause a moment, move your lips as you read off the veterans name. Each was a human being with hopes and dreams, family and friends, a mother and father. Take time to think of him or her and what they did for our nation."
Five of these seven wreaths were held by a member of their respective service branch. The sixth was representing the Merchant Marines and the seventh was for those who are still unaccounted for, the POW/MIA. The wreaths were hung in a spot of honor at the Westside Cemetery outdoor rotunda.
Wreaths Across America is an annual national observance celebrated by communities in respect for all deceased veterans, everywhere. This year it was held on Dec. 14. The observance is in REMEMBRANCE of fallen veterans from all wars, conflicts, or police actions. The placement of wreaths HONOR those veterans who served their country, often unseen, with quiet dignity and full allegiance. Generational in its observance, it helps to TEACH the value of freedom.
The holding of these national ceremonies and the placing of wreaths at each veterans' final resting place, fulfills the Wreaths Across America mission statement of: REMEMBER, HONOR, TEACH.
In Tehachapi, nearly 700 wreaths were placed by veterans and local volunteers at the community's two local cemeteries, and at Freedom Plaza the evening before where one member from each branch of the military was on hand to place a wreath at each of the military monuments and one each for POW/MIA and the Merchant Marines.
