FOUR GENERATIONS … Being honored with Wreaths across America on December 19, 2020 at Riverside Cemetery, was World War II veteran Leland Hanes. Standing behind his grave are from left to right, his great granddaughters 15 year old Hannah and 17 year old Kathryn, his granddaughter Brandi Sabatino and his daughter Karen Tressler. (PHOTOS BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
Wreaths Across America is a group that was started to give family members and other proud Americans a way to honor veterans at Christmas time. Anyone can volunteer to lay the wreaths, stepping up to a Veteran’s grave site, speaking their name out loud and laying the wreath on their grave.
Many families turn out to place a wreath on the grave(s) of family, and then assist in placing them all over the cemetery, with as many wreaths as that group has purchased.
Here in Northwest Ohio, some of the cemeteries involved were in Evansport, Edgerton, Edon, West Unity and Montpelier. Evansport held their ceremony as an online event to allow people from near and far to attend whether they can get out in the cold or not. Montpelier was held live at the cemetery, though kept short due to the cold.
Tarry Eicher headed up the drive to make it happen at the Riverside Cemetery located on the west end of Montpelier. She posted a number of times on Facebook to keep people updated on how it was going, including a post thanking “Keller Trucking for bringing the wreaths; truck Driver Matt
Chapman from Ney, Ohio; Powers and Sons, for Unloading the truck and Michael Frybarger and his guys for helping unload.” The Montpelier funds were able to purchase 516 wreaths this year, which is 178 more than last year.
As a Gold Star Mom, Eicher considers herself blessed to get to be a part of this great movement across the country to honor our veterans. “It gives me a sense of peace of mind that day, when I lay the wreath on a veteran’s grave site.
Knowing what they have done for our country, for us to be FREE,” Eicher said. “My son, Sgt. Michael Paul Hodshire, told me before he left to go over seas, ‘Don’t worry about me mom. My boys have my back and I have theirs.’ Now I can tell my son up in heaven that I have his boys’ backs, and that they will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.”
During the Ceremony held near the Monument and Flag in the middle of the cemetery, Kay Wendorf, a relative of Tarry’s, shared the memorial speech and Gloria Poorman led in prayer. As Tarry Eicher was suffering from pneumonia, she was grateful for these two who stepped up to do what she normally would have been doing. Eicher was there, despite the pneumonia, as she said, “to finish the job.”
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and the speech which honored all who have died serving our country, seven veterans were prepared to step up and hang a wreath in honor and memory of all those in each division of the military, including POW/MIAs. For Army – Mike Esterline, for Marine Corps -Gloria Poorman, for Navy – Dave Reeder, for Air Force – Bob Babcock, for Coast Guard – Connie Gilbert, for Merchant Marines – Doug Morrison and for POW/MIA – Karen Esterline.
The group of around 30 people gathered silently in the cold, spread out all over the cemetery to place the wreaths. Boxes had been placed strategically around for everyone to get the wreaths and honor the fallen. Thank you to all who came out to all of the ceremonies, to assist and honor not only your own loved ones but all veterans who are laid to rest here in Williams County.
For anyone who would like to get involved in doing this next year, contact Tarry Eicher at her FaceBook page, or go to Wreaths across America/Riverside Cemetery/OHRCMO. You can sponsor a wreath or volunteer. Eicher is hoping to spread out and have even more cemeteries in Williams County covered each year.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
