By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A couple Eastwood graduates, who returned to the area after a decade in the nation’s capital, brought a touching tradition home with them.
Back in Ohio, they found a teacher ready to help, students eager to get involved, and a community willing to honor local veterans.
Chad and Victoria (Rogers) Albright, who graduated from Eastwood in 2004 and 2005 respectively, had volunteered with the Wreaths Across America program in Arlington National Cemetery.
“We really fell in love with the tradition,” Chad Albright said.
So they wanted to share the program with the Eastwood area – teaching the next generation to pay respects to the sacrifices made by veterans.
“We thought it would be a fantastic way to continue to remember those people who served our country,” he said.
Last year, the local Wreaths Across America tradition started relatively small – with about 200 Christmas wreaths being placed on the graves of veterans buried in Webster Township Cemetery.
This year, the project has more than tripled, with the goal of placing about 700 wreaths on veterans’ graves in three Freedom Township cemeteries – Eisenhour, Fish and Pemberville – along with the one in Webster Township.
“It’s a big order,” said Nathan Howard, the Eastwood High School English teacher, who organized the school’s Key Club to help.
“Last year was great,” said Howard, who has served in the National Guard for more than 24 years.
The wreaths honor the veterans and serve as a reminder to the students.
“That was a pretty neat thing to see,” Howard said of the students and community volunteers placing wreaths on the graves of veterans. “It’s really good for the kids. I love the fact that our community does a lot to connect our kids with the veterans.”
Next year, Albright and Howard would like to expand the program further, to include Troy Township Cemetery as well.
According to Albright, the local program is about halfway to this year’s goal of 700 wreaths. People wanting to contribute to buy wreaths have until Nov. 30 to do so. There are three ways to sponsor wreaths:
- Online: securely sponsor wreaths online at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/162817.
- Email: contact Albright at chad.p.albright@gmail.com and he’ll send a form that can be completed and mailed to Wreaths Across America.
- In Person: Provide cash or a check payable to “Eastwood Key Club” to a member of the Eastwood Key Club, Anne Michel, Becky Dippman or drop it off at the Eastwood High School office.
The live evergreen wreaths cost $15 each, with one free wreath for every two that are purchased.
Community volunteers may also help with placing the wreaths in the four cemeteries on Dec. 19. A ceremony will be held in the Eastwood High School parking lot (on the Luckey Road side) starting at 10 a.m. Families of veterans will start laying the wreaths at 10:30 a.m., then the general public can join in at 10:45 a.m.
Nationwide, the Wreaths Across America program takes place in all 50 states. In 2019, approximately 2.2 million veteran wreaths were placed on headstones at 2,158 cemeteries around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made – with each veteran’s name read out loud.
“We were looking to give back to the community,” Albright said. And it appears many in the Eastwood district felt the same.
