Westfield (MA) gives huge welcome to Wreaths Across America

The Republican ^

[matt04]

“America will always be strong because of communities like Westfield,” Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America, said while attending a special veterans’ memorial at Stanley Park on Tuesday.

More than 200 city veterans, schoolchildren and residents attended the ceremony and welcomed Worcester and her entourage that included Maine’s First Lady Ann LePage, American Gold Star Mothers president Mary Beyers, retired Army Major Gen. Peter M. Aylward and eight tractor-trailers full of holiday wreaths en route to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

“My heart is full seeing all the children and others who turned out today,” said Worcester, noting the mission of Wreaths Across America is to ‘honor, remember and teach younger generations about the value of freedom and sacrifices made by veterans.’

“I am choked up to see this many people come out on a cold day. America is the names on the stones in veterans cemeteries across the nation,” she said.

Wreaths Across America left seven wreaths at the parks’ Veterans Memorial, one for each branch of the military, including the Merchant Marines and Prisoner of War/Missing in Action.

[tflabo]

Wreaths are all the rave-—as for nativity scenes, well—not so much.