Wreaths Across America

Yesterday was an event we have made one of our annual Christmas traditions over the past seven years... Wreaths Across America. The Civil Air Patrol cadets of the Green Mountain Composite Squadron in South Burlington, Vermont lay wreaths at the graves of each of our fallen Veterans before participating in a dignified wreath-laying ceremony under old glory at the center of this garden of stone. Today, however, this garden of stone was decorated for Christmas.

For me, this is an event filled with fond memories, visions, shadows and ghosts. Yesterday's event was no exception. 

As I was shooting photos... kneeling in the snow... sitting in the snow... standing in snow up to my knees... soaking all my clothing in freezing water... I kept seeing shadows and visions of my own past as Team Chief of a special team of the Air Force Honor Guard. 

I had participated in countless ceremonies and funerals in countless cemeteries just like this one all across the country. I've stood in deep snow, feet numb, shivering away the brutal cold, while honoring another fallen service member. I've consoled grieving family members. As I peered through my viewfinder yesterday, I couldn't help but see visions of these experiences. At times, I admit it was difficult to keep my composure and continue to shoot photos as the ceremony unfolded in my viewfinder.

One of the things which made this year's event different for us is that this was also a special day for Adam. This was Adam's seventh consecutive Wreaths Across America ceremony as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. He has laid out hundreds of wreaths. He has honored hundreds of Veterans. He has been part of an honorable tradition which bestows honor, dignity and respect in all of our national gardens of stone across our country. This day, however, would be special because this would be Adam's last wreath-laying ceremony as a cadet. Next month he leaves for basic training in the US Air Force. 

As always, Adam's mom and I were present for this special annual event. Adam's grandparents were present yesterday to share in this very noble and honorable event and perhaps looked upon Adam in a slightly different light on this day. They have always respected Adam and have had complete confidence in him but I am sure they looked upon him in a slightly different light on this day. Adam presented the wreath honoring the fallen Air Force Veterans. The wreath was decorated in a red ribbon, a small US flag and a small Air Force flag. 

In his final Wreaths Across America wreath-laying ceremony as a cadet, it was obvious that after participating in seven of these ceremonies, Adam could run one of these ceremonies in his sleep. He seemed comfortable. He seemed at ease yet solemn. He seemed in his element. And, as he prepares to leave for the US Air Force, perhaps he was indeed in his element. 

Today is a special day for Adam but as I crouched down in the deep frigid snow yesterday, feeling every ache and pain from a career of many injuries, getting wetter and wetter from the melting snow... peering through my viewfinder, I could swear I saw a lone young airman off in the distance on a snowy knoll in this distinctive garden of stone... he was standing tall, at attention, his service cap sitting high and squarely on his head, shoulders back, his back straight... his perfectly straight forearm and hand pointing toward his brow, saluting... proudly and intensely peering back at all of us with his thousand yard stare as we honored all these fallen veterans... I could swear this airman resembled me some thirty years ago...


To view an online gallery of photos from yesterday's event, click here - Wreaths Across America 2014.