VVA Chapter 1069 members attend and participate in a special "Wreaths Across America Ceremony", held at Oaklawn Memorial Park in El Campo, Texas, on Saturday, December 14, 2019. The ceremony was also a Salute to all the Service branches, (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard. Also included were the Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA). Each group was honored with a wreath placed by a local veteran, a member of VVA Chapter 1069. The event was sponsored and organized by The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Comfort Woods Chapter based in Wharton, Texas.
The ceremony was held at Oaklawn Memorial Park, located just North of El Campo. The above photo shows the Wreaths (from Wreaths Across America) that would be placed on the stands by members of local VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America) Chapter 1069. Each Wreath represented a different branch of Service; Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and included a wreath for the POW/MIA.
Above photo shows VVA Chapter 1069's Vice President, Leonard Sternadel (far right), preparing the chapter members for the ceremony activites. A big thank-you goes out to Leonard for planning and organizing our chapter's participation in this special Wreaths Across America event honoring all veterans.
Above photo shows members of VVA Chapter 1069 gathering before the ceremony.
The above photo shows the open air pavillion/chapel that the ceremony was held in.
Above photo shows the two motorcycles that were used to escort in the colors for the ceremony. They belong to chapter members, Augie Limas & Harold Piekert.
Above photo shows the VVA Chapter 1069 members that participated in the ceremony, (left to right), Louis Milder, Leroy Bacak, Randy Ratcliff, John Collins, Richard Lindley, Dave Wagner & Larry Monroe.
Above photo shows Nancy Kacal, who opened the ceremony with a welcome and a prayer. Nancy coordinated the event for the "Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)" of Wharton County, Comfort Wood DAR Chapter of Wharton . Nancy is the local area coordinator for the Wreaths Across America organization. Use the link below to learn more about the organization.
CLICK HERE to visit the Wreaths Across America website
The chapel is filling up before the ceremony.
Above photo shows Leonard saluting the colors as chapter member Augie Limas brings the colors in for the ceremony.
Above photo shows Leonard saluting the colors as chapter member Harold Piekert brings the colors in for the ceremony.
The chapter wants to express its gratitude to both Augie and Harold for bringing their motorcycles and participating in the ceremony.
Above photo shows the starting of the ceremony with the "Pledge of Allegiance".
Above photo Nancy opening the ceremony with a welcoming prayer and short presentation.
Above photo shows the local minister giving a very insightful presentation.
Above and below photos show chapter members, each in turn, placing a wreath on its corresponding stand, as host Nancy Kacal announced the branch of Service to be honored.
Above photo shows Nancy giving a closing prayer.
Above photo shows all the Wreaths placed on the stands.
Again a big thanks to our two chapter members (and their motorcycles) for participating in this ceremony. It really was a touching moment to see them bring in the colors on their motorcycles.
In closing, the chapter would like to thank all those members and spouses that participated in or helped with this ceremony and with any of the other Wreaths Across America activities this Christmas. And a final Thank-you to chapter Vice President, Leonard Sternadel, for planning and organizing the part of the ceremony that included the participation of our chapter members. It turned out to be a very touching ceremony.
After the ceremony, chapter members went to the "Garden of Memories" cemetary (in El Campo), to help distribute and place 50+ Wreaths on the graves of Veterans.
Again, this was part of the local Wreaths Across America program, coordinated by Nancy Kacal, local coordinator for the WAA. Nancy had already pre-marked those Veteran's graves that were to recieve a Christmas Wreath.
Above photo shows chapter Vice President, Leonard Sternadel, heading out to distribute a box of Wreaths.
The Wreath distribution included not only Vietnam Veterans, but Veterans of all Wars, as the above photo shows.