Wreaths honor departed veterans at Longmont's fifth annual ceremony
Dec. 16—The U.S. military veterans buried in Longmont's Mountain View Cemetery were warmly commemorated during Saturday's wreath-laying ceremony.
"We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people from many walks of life," Delaney Dreckman, location coordinator, told the crowd Saturday morning. "The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price."
In 2019, Mountain View Cemetery became a location for Wreaths Across America, a national nonprofit that coordinates wreath-laying events for veterans. This year marked the fifth annual wreath-laying ceremony in Longmont, which Dreckman has coordinated each year.
"It's so nice to see the same volunteers that we've known for five years come back," Dreckman said. "It's cool to see how it's grown ... and the connections we've made with different veterans in the community."
Dreckman said she estimated that around 200 people attended the ceremony — a bigger crowd than last year. Longmont location volunteers raised $22,000 this year, allowing them to buy 1,300 holiday wreaths.
The ceremony featured remarks by Dreckman, a presentation of colors by the American Legion Post 32 honor guard and performances by the Mead Middle School Pop Choir. Eight ceremonial wreaths were also hung by local veterans to represent each branch of the military and soldiers who never returned home.
"It's an honor," said Post 32 member Michael Crowder, who hung the Army wreath.
Dreckman also dedicated this year's event to Longmont resident Ann Warhola, who died in May. Warhola was a WAA volunteer and raised money for the wreath-laying ceremonies through the Post 32 sponsorship group.
"(Warhola) was so passionate about Wreaths Across America and our mission to remember and honor our veterans after they have passed," Dreckman said. "We are all so blessed to have had the opportunity to love her."
After the ceremony, attendees took wreaths throughout the cemetery to veterans' graves, which were marked by red flags. Doughnuts and hot drinks were also served to guests at a booth manned by the Longmont Republican Women.
"It's just the American thing to do, to honor our veterans who helped to make us free," said LRW member Rita Rosson.
Kris Miller, a WAA board member for the Longmont location, helped distribute wreaths to participants and collect flags from the graves.
"It's just a way to give back and honor veterans, since I wasn't able to serve myself," Miller said of the ceremony. "I have family buried in this cemetery as well, so this has been my community since I was born."
Miller helped put on the first ceremony five years ago and said the event consistently gets a good turnout.
"I see new faces every year, and some of the same faces, so it's nice that the word is spreading," she said.
