Wreaths Placed to Honor Veterans Today at the Roseburg National Cemetery

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation today, Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at the Weekly Business Meeting calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to observe Wreaths Across America Day, in celebration of the Annual Wreaths Across America event on Saturday, December 16, 2023. The mission of Wreaths Across America is to “REMEMBER the Fallen, HONOR Those Who Serve and TEACH Our Children the Value of Freedom” with the laying of remembrance Christmas wreaths on veterans’ graves on the third Saturday of December of each year. The Commissioners were honored to support Wreaths Across America, especially the efforts of our local community in placing wreaths on veterans’ graves at the Roseburg VA National Cemetery. The proclamation was presented by Commissioner Boice, on behalf of the Board and acknowledged, “In 2022, Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers laid over 2.7 million remembrance wreaths at 3,702 participating locations in all 50 States across America and beyond, including ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, as well as Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Roseburg VA National Cemetery. This feat was accomplished with the help of over 6,000 sponsors, corporate contributions, 400 truckload carriers, and thousands and thousands of volunteer helping hands across America.” A copy of the video presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment. “I attended one of the first local Wreaths Across America events at the old Roseburg VA Cemetery many years ago when Linda and Terry Mooney with the Patriot Guard asked the local Harley Owners group to participate. It was our great honor to be there. Since then, I have done my best to attend almost every one, and as the years pass, each and every one of them become more important to me. I encourage residents to attend the ceremony but please stay afterwards for the placing of the wreaths. That is the part that is really important. The opportunity to get a wreath, take it out to a headstone, place it, and say that veterans name out loud in remembrance is priceless,” stated Commissioner Freeman. Commissioner Tim Freeman presented proclamation certificates to Roseburg Wreaths Across America Co-Location Coordinators; John Pierson (Retired U.S. Air Force) and Shelley Johnson. John is the President of Military Honors by the Pipes, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing a bagpiper for all military funeral services or any ceremony where military honors are appropriate at no cost to the families. Shelley is the Commanding Officer of the Roseburg Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets. Commissioner Freeman also recognized event participants, volunteers and sponsors including Jim Little, Dan Loomis, Vietnam Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapter #805 Roseburg, Bill Duncan, Steve Dillman, Rex Pierson, Tom Davis, Bill Mixon, Neil Hummel, Roger Boucock, Ron Dukes, Jim Barnett, Frank Escalante, Tom Beckley, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, DCSO Lt. Brad O’Dell, Mary Newman-Keyes, Carol Hunt, Josh Frasier, Heidi Wood and Representative Virgle Osborne. “First, I want to thank our County Commissioners for making such a big deal about Wreaths Across America. I think this is a very important program. I think that every thankful American should remember and honor veterans. What is of paramount importance about this ceremony is the fact that it teaches kids and our next generation the value of freedom. I am so thankful to live in the most amazing and supportive community. It is because of all of you that we are able to make this ceremony happen. Our goal is to someday place a wreath on every grave at the Roseburg VA Cemetery,” stated John Pierson, Co-Location Coordinator, Roseburg Wreaths Across American and President of Military Honors by the Pipes. “It’s amazing to see the support that we get from our community to honor our veterans. I come from a veteran family and my son is currently serving. So, it is super important to me to honor our veterans as best as we can and every time we can,” commented Shelley Johnson, Co-Location Coordinator, Roseburg Wreaths Across American event. The proclamation presented today is a reminder that the freedoms and liberties we enjoy as Americans owe a debt of gratitude to the courageous men and women who have and currently serve our nation in all divisions of our United States Armed Forces, including our reserves. Today and every day, we especially encourage citizens to support the local Wreaths Across America effort to honor our veterans. For more information about Wreaths Across America, log onto the Wreaths Across America 's website here. The Roseburg Wreaths Across America ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at the Roseburg VA National Cemetery starting at 12:00 pm. “Since the beginning of our nation, generation after generation has made this promise to remember, honor and teach. Those are precious words, precious promises. But there is a difference between a promise and action. And Wreaths across America is an action. It is so important to have the opportunity to place those words into action. I really encourage folks to take advantage of the opportunity to put those words into action and show up, place a wreath and say a veteran’s name,” stated Dan Loomis, Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 - U.S. Army, Douglas County Clerk, and Co-Emcee of the Roseburg Wreaths Across America event. Via Douglas County Government Photos by Elijah Finlay