Wreaths Across America - ABC5 News Des Moines, IA

Wreaths Across America

by Phil Prazan

pprazan@myabc5.com

@PhilPrazan

Today family and friends gathered at cemeteries throughout the country to remember our military veterans.

What started as a few wreaths being laid at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington D.C. has come a long way.
Saturday, wreaths were laid at 750 state and national veterans cemeteries; all at the same time.
 
The ceremony was held right outside the metro at the Iowa Veteran's Cemetery.

A few hundred people fought for room inside the committal shelter.

Colonel William Dehaes, commander of the 132nd fighter wing, gave the keynote address.  He focused on thanking the families who hold the home front together when soldiers are away.

Then wreaths representing seven branches of the military were placed on fallen veterans graves, followed by a stream of family members who laid wreaths on their own loved ones final resting places.
 
"It's overwhelming because some of these have come quit a long distance as well just to put that wreath on, but they wanted to put that wreath on their own loved ones grave site.  To me it's well worth the work it is to do this," says Patrick Palmersheim from Wreaths Across America.
 
Veterans of wars as far back as World War 2 were there to give thanks to our troops who are away for the holidays and to respect those who never came back.