By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – The holiday season is traditionally a time to remember others with a gesture of appreciation. Fallen military veterans were remembered with a wreath-laying ceremony at Mountain View Cemetery in Shrewsbury. Due to heavy rain forecast for Dec. 14, the observance was rescheduled to a blustery Dec. 15.
For the sixth year, the Victor R. Quaranta American Legion Post 397 sponsored the ceremony in conjunction with Wreaths Across America (WAA). In exchange for a donation to WAA, this year the post received 51 wreaths to place at veterans’ graves. The local effort was coordinated by Commander Fred Russell.
Also laying wreaths were members of the Ray Stone American Legion Post 238 and Charles J. Murphy VFW Post 10278, along with retired Air Force Majors Alan and Gail Harrington.
They were assisted by Selectmen Chair Maurice DePalo and Selectman John Samia; Boy Scout Troop 4 (formerly 1004), whose sponsor is American Legion Post 238; the Algonquin Regional High School student organization Operation Tomahawk, whose mission is to help active military personnel, veterans and their families; and several family members of local veterans.
WAA is in its 28th year. According to the WAA website, “Our mission to remember, honor and teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 1,600 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.”
photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.
