Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Standing stoically against the cold air, eight members of the Pocahontas County Veterans Honor Corps circled the flagpole at the Arbovale Cemetery last Saturday for the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony.
As those eight men held wreaths representing each branch of the military and the POW/MIA, Honor Corps Commander Rick Wooddell led the ceremony which took place promptly at noon.
This gathering was one of 4,800 across the country that participated that day in the remembrance ceremony.
Three million wreaths – including 400,000 at Arlington National Cemetery – were placed to honor the men and women who served or are currently serving in the American Armed Forces.
“Today, there are millions of Americans gathering safely as one nation to Remember, Honor and Teach,” Wooddell said. “We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people, from many walks of life. The freedoms we enjoy today have not we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear.
“We can worship as we see fit,” he continued. “We can raise our children to believe as we do. We are free to vote for the leaders of our choosing. We have the ability to prosper, and we have the right to fail at whatever endeavor we wish to pursue.”
America is a country founded on freedom, justice and equality and stands on the shining beacon of liberty and a free world, Wooddell stated, adding that 2024 is the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge which were both part of the effort to liberate Europe from the Nazis.
There have been many fights for freedom and Wooddell quoted 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan, stating “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We don’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 around the world.”
“Today, we show a united front of gratitude and respect across the United States of America as we follow the three main tenants of this day – Remember the Fallen; Honor those who serve and their families; and Teach the next generation the value of freedom,” Wooddell said.
The wreaths were placed one by one, in remembrance of those who served and are serving.
Army Specialist 4 Donnie Waybright – U.S. Army.
Navy Seaman Rob Curry – U.S. Navy.
Marine Sergeant Duke Fry – U.S. Marine Corps.
Air Force A1C Steve Fierbaugh – U.S. Air Force.
Army Specialist 4 Ben Luckacek – U.S. Space Force.
Army Sergeant John Sparks –U.S. Coast Guard.
Retired Captain George Fleck of the Merchant Marines – U.S. Merchant Marines.
Retired Army Sergeant Major Sollie Workman – the 81,000 U.S. servicemen and women from all branches of the services whose last known status was either Prisoner of War or Missing in Action.
In closing, Wooddell said these wreaths are not for decoration. They are placed to show appreciation from a grateful nation and to remember those who are no longer here to celebrate holidays with us.
“These live balsam firs symbolize our honor to those who have served and are serving in the armed forces of our great nation and to their families who endure sacrifices every day on our behalf,” he said.
The Honor Corps ended the ceremony with a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps.