Laying wreaths to honor veterans

It was a cold day but hearts were warm on the morning of December 16 as Laboratory employee volunteers and community partners gathered to place wreaths on grave markers at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on as part of the Wreaths Across America initiative.

Employees, in partnership with Los Alamos National Security LLC, Centerra-Los Alamos (the Lab's protective force contractor), Berardinelli Funeral Home, the International Guard Union of America Local 69, and Los Alamos National Bank raised $11,500 to sponsor 1,150 evergreen wreaths of remembrance for the ceremony.

"It was a great effort from the employees and partners to sponsor so many wreaths," says Carole Rutten from the Community Partnerships Office. "We're proud to honor our veterans in this way."

The Wreaths Across America initiative coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and other cemeteries and locations in all 50 states.

“As a retired Army colonel, the Wreaths Across America initiative is important to me, as a way to pay respect to the soldiers I served with in combat that didn’t come home,” Ted Spain says. “As the General Manager for Centerra-Los Alamos, it is important to me to honor the service of the many veterans we have working for us. Contributing to Wreaths Across America is an outstanding way to remember those that have given so much to our country.”

Volunteers placed wreaths on all the graves in a section of the cemetery.

Laboratory volunteer Larry Dostart attended the ceremony with his family. “As a 26- year Air Force veteran, my family and I have first-hand experience of the sacrifices that today’s service men, women and families experience.  We will always be a military family and my kids have embraced the value of being part of something larger than oneself,” he says.

More information on the event is available on the Wreaths Across America website.