Wreaths lie atop a military tomb in Coral Ridge Cemetery Saturday. Wreaths Across America takes place nationwide each December, honoring veterans and their spouses with a wreath, American flag, and the appreciation of this nation.<\/p>\n
CASEY BRADLEY GENT<\/p>\n
Area residents paid homage to veterans Saturday by taking part in a remembrance held annually nationwide.<\/p>\n
An estimated 200 attendees placed both Christmas wreaths and American flags next to each veteran\u2019s headstone in the military sections of the Coral Ridge Cemetery as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. <\/p>\n
This coordinated event, recognized by Congress in 2008, takes place each December. The event is intended to express gratitude and remembrance to both veterans and their families for the freedoms military service members ensure for fellow Americans.<\/p>\n
Annette Warren, an Air Force veteran who served a stint in The United Arab Emirates, was one of the last four community members to leave Coral Ridge Cemetery Saturday afternoon. She had placed a wreath over the grave of World War II veteran Anthony Galante. <\/p>\n
\u201cEach of us who placed a wreath today spoke the person\u2019s name and offered a gentle hand salute,\u201d Warren said. \u201cToday was a day for us to pause and remember the life of this veteran or veteran\u2019s spouse.\u201d <\/p>\n
Galante was the uncle of one of Warren\u2019s friends. Placing a wreath and flag over the grave from a member of the Greatest Generation was especially poignant. <\/p>\n
Warren\u2019s husband, Chuck Warren, also a veteran, placed his wreath and flag over the gravesite of World War II veteran Lawrence Schuman. Chuck Warren said it was important to him to honor a veteran of such a historically significant war. <\/p>\n
Wreaths Across America seeks to ensure that the efforts of America\u2019s veterans are never forgotten.<\/p>\n
The original wreath-laying ceremony occurred at Arlington National Cemetery, begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. Currently, the wreaths placed in Coral Ridge Cemetery \u2014 and participating cemeteries nationwide \u2013 are still manufactured in Maine. Paul Gales, funeral director and embalmer at Coral Ridge Cemetery, said this year\u2019s wreaths arrived in Cape Coral last Wednesday. \u201cOne hundred percent of the wreaths we received were purchased by generous donations,\u201d Gales said. \u201cWe received 1,300 wreaths this year. Some were donated individually and other wreaths were purchased in bulk by donors.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p>\n