LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
More than 50 U.S. Airmen and Soldiers from Joint Base Langley-Eustis laid wreaths on the graves of fallen veterans at local cemeteries during the annual "Wreaths Across America" program, Dec. 14.
Military personnel and local community members laid wreaths over 12,000 headstones of fallen veterans at national veteran cemeteries in Hampton, Suffolk and Yorktown.
The Wreaths Across America program is an annual event in which volunteers hold wreath-laying ceremonies at veteran cemeteries in all 50 states and American cemeteries around the world.
"This is our way of saying 'Thank you' to fallen Service members," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Rosemary Williams, 633rd Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics planner. "Without what they've done for us in the past, we couldn't do what we do for them now."
Before laying the wreaths, participants joined in a moment of silence to remember the fallen, prisoners of war, those missing in action and to honor those who have served and those who currently serve in the Armed Services around the world. Representatives from each branch of the military laid a ceremonial wreath for members of their respective branch of service.
Cadets from local high school Junior ROTC programs also participated by presenting the colors, escorting representatives from each service while laying ceremonial wreaths and laying wreaths at various headstones throughout the cemeteries.
"It is incredible to see young JROTC cadets came out to [volunteer]," said Master Sgt. Jeffrey Koenig, 633rd Air Base Wing Protocol superintendent. "It is a great way to teach the next generation [of Service members] about our military heritage."
Some military volunteers said they had personal reasons for participating in the event.
"My cousin was in the Army and he passed away about a year after I joined the Air Force," said Williams. "I can never again thank him in person for his service but this allows me to remember him."
While there are thousands of wreaths laid every year, there are not enough wreaths to be placed on every veteran's headstones. Many of these Service members plan to participate in the program in years to come, working to ensure every veteran's final resting place has a wreath during the holiday season.