- April 20, 2024
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Cecilia Vlassis laid down a wreath Dec. 17 (Photos by Emily Blackwood).
Aimee Velez placed a wreath on a veteran' s grave with Edward Velez, Celia Velez, Raegan Padulla and Kaela Padulla watching her.
Debbie McLain looked up at the flag after placing her wreath.
Gerald Anderson saluted the graves of veterans.
Dozens of people attended the event.
Over 300 wreaths were placed during the ceremony.
Debbie McLain walked her red, white and blue cowboy boots out of the large crowd of people who were standing with their hands by their sides and over their hearts. She carefully chose a wreath and placed it front of a tombstone. Placing her hand over her heart, she patted it three times and saluted.
"I think the general public still cares about our veterans," said Sherman Burres, after the Wreaths Across American opening ceremony. Hundreds of people came out to Volusia Memorial Park in Ormond Beach to the event that honors local veterans lives every December. Though the event is held at over 1,000 locations all over the country, this was the first year it was done in Ormond Beach.
"We felt we needed to be in East Volusia County," said Burres, the organizer of the event. "We want our veterans here to be recognized."
Members from Ormond Strong and Team Red, White and Blue were at the event, as well as members from the Rolling Thunder Inc., Florida Chapter 8 and the Veterans Assistance Coalition, who volunteered.
There were 360 wreaths placed at Volusia Memorial Park and 24 placed at Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery Dec. 17.
