TOGUS — The Outdoor Adventure Club at USM’s Lewiston Auburn Senior College, led by Patricia Vampatella and Cindy Boyd, co-chairs, participated in the National Wreaths Across America Day held Dec. 16, coordinating with veterans’ cemeteries across the country and those in overseas locations and synchronizing with the noontime ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery.
The group was part of a hundred volunteers who gathered at Togus National Cemetery and placed the fresh evergreen Remembrance Wreaths with bright red ribbon bows on the graves of more than 5,000 veterans.
The Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington in Washington County is now in its 26th year of providing wreaths for headstones of veteran servicemen and servicewomen in Arlington. Years ago, the company expanded its wreath operations and the program became a national movement and a tradition, Wreaths Across America.
The company provides wreaths at the three major Maine veterans cemeteries: Togus National Cemetery and the two Maine Veterans Memorial Cemeteries in Augusta.
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King participated in the Wreaths Across America annual Capitol wreath-laying ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The noontime ceremony was held at the Togus Cemetery flagpole. Kaye Bouchard, Togus representative, led the veterans, families and friends in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence remembering the fallen veterans.
Representatives from branches of the U.S. services laid a Remembrance Wreath at the base of the flagpole. A three-gun salute was fired, followed by a member of the Honor Guard playing taps, which concluded the ceremony.
It was the fourth year that Senior College members participated and it is now a locked-in event on their calendar.
A Senior College group is pictured at the Togus veterans cemetery. From left are Cindy Boyd, Rachel Morin, Les Bosworth, Charlotte Bosworth, Claire Bruno, Chris Leavitt, Patricia Vampatella, Joan Leavitt, Grace Trainor, Adriann Tucker and Sue Tymoczko; absent, Ellen Della Torre and Lucille Clement.
Fresh evergreen wreaths with red ribbon bows grace the veterans’ white headstones at Togus National Cemetery.
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