Author’s Note: The title has been altered for clarity and conciseness
WHEATLAND — On December 18 at the National Guard Armory on Cole Street, groups including the Civil Air Patrol and VFW Auxiliary Post #3558 gathered for a memorial ceremony honoring fallen soldiers.
The ceremony was a continuation of the Wreaths Across America event. Its goal is to lay a wreath on the graves of fallen soldiers across the United States.
This year the Auxiliary Post received 1,450 wreaths, enough for each deceased veteran in Platte County. The wreaths were delivered to the Wheatland Cemetery December 10 then distributed.
The armory’s ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. with an opening speech from Susan McDonald, the Deputy Commander for Cadets of the Captain Michael S. Walker Memorial Cadet Squadron.
McDonald has been with the Air Patrol for almost 26 years. She had previously served in the Army just under four years between 1978 to 1981.
“I started out in the New York Reserve, moved to Arizona and there wasn’t a reserve unit close by so I transferred to the Guard,” said McDonald. “And then I went Active Duty, so I hit all three.”
McDonald became involved with Wreaths Across America in 2005. Location troubles helped lead to the formation of the ceremony in Wheatland.
“When I found out about it, I called and the only location even near us was the national cemetery in Casper,” said McDonald.
“When I saw the time of the year the ceremony was held, I thought, ‘The kids are gonna get disappointed because we’re gonna get involved and then we won’t be able to get there for the actual ceremony.’”
After McDonald finished speaking, Auxiliary Post #3558 President Ruth Herdt also gave remarks, as well as reading a letter from Senator John Barrasso.
The indoor ceremony lasted about 10 minutes. Afterward, along with an escort including the Wheatland Police Department and Wheatland Volunteer Fire Department, attendees traveled to Wheatland Cemetery for the second part of the event.
At the cemetery, seven wreaths were placed on stands beside a memorial pad to veterans. Six wreaths were for branches of the military, and one was for prisoners of war and those missing in action.
For McDonald, Wreaths Across America is important because it allows people to remember those who have served and those who do serve. “It’s a way of honoring those that didn’t make it home to honoring those that did and later died,” said McDonald. “Those that served and those that are serving
James Meyer 