Record crowds at wreaths event

BLOOMFIELD -- The largest crowd ever turned out for the 2014 Wreaths Across America program held Saturday at the State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. Over 2,000 wreaths were placed by the public on every grave at the cemetery.

Randy Dunn served as Master of Ceremonies, leading the crowd in a moment of silence for those who have served in the armed forces, the Prisoners of War (POWs) and the Missing in Action (MIAs). Cemetery Director Ken Swearingen estimated that more than 600 turned out for the ceremony which was held for the seventh consecutive year at the cemetery. The sky was gray, but the temperatures were moderate which may have contributed to the large turnout.

The main part of the program was laying the seven ceremonial wreaths for each branch of the military, plus the POWs/MIAs. The ceremony coincides with the laying of the ceremonial wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. There were 220,000 ceremonial wreaths at 545 locations in the United States, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries placed at noon Eastern Time for Wreaths Across America

The ceremonial wreaths were laid by Gary Kitchen (ret.) for the Army, Capt. Tom Love for the Marines, Petty Officer First Class Carl Bess for the Navy, Sgt. Randy Kannell for the Air Force, Chief Irvis Jarreau for the Coast Guard, Pvt. First Class Lester Barker for the Merchant Marines and Sgt. Roy Rhodes for the POWs/MIAs.

Swearingen introduced several dignitaries. On hand for the ceremony were State Rep. Tia Hubreacht, Billy Pat Wright representing State Sen. Doug Libla and County Commissioner Carol Jarrell.

The Stoddard County Honor Guard provided a 21-gun salute also with the playing of Taps to conclude the ceremony.

Others participating were Kara King singing the National Anthem and Pastor Ronnie Stevens with the First General Baptist Church leading the invocation and benediction.

Wreaths Across America was started in 1992 by the Worcester Wreath Company. The ceremony has grown each year since that time with more cemeteries and more countries than ever participating. Ceremonies this year were held at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and the sites of the Sept. 11 tragedies.

The event this year was accomplished with the help of 902 fundraising groups, corporate contributions, and donations of trucking, shipping and thousands of volunteers.

"We thank them for working with us to remember the men and women who have served our country," said a Wreaths spokesperson.