NORTHBOROUGH/MARLBOROUGH – On Dec. 14, community members in Northborough and Marlborough participated in Wreaths Across America, an initiative focused on honoring and remembering veterans while teaching people about the value of freedom.
It was the first time either town had hosted the event. As part of the event, community members were invited to place a wreath on the grave of a veteran and say their names to keep their memories alive.
Marlborough
The Marlborough Wreaths Across America ceremony featured the reading of the names of those who died in service and were buried at the Maplewood Cemetery. It was followed by a musket salute.
Matthew Sargent, a Marlborough resident and Navy reservist, helped to organize the event and has worked to preserve the memories of veterans by researching individuals and leaving pictures with stories about their lives by their graves.
“The importance is to recognize the veterans that are buried within each community and to recognize their sacrifice, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Sargent said. “I read the list of names of those that are buried here that died in the service. We want to recognize them specifically, but also all veterans.”
Spurred by support from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Marlborough Historical Society, Sargent hopes for the event to be an annual occurrence.
“It was really nice to see the outpouring of support from folks today, and to see that grow would be really good,” Sargent said.
Irene Germano, a DAR member who helped organize the event, recognized the importance of Wreaths Across America.
“There’s so many ways we can help our veterans and those who’ve served, and I just think this event today is just so monumental because it’s nationwide,” Germano said.
Northborough
Dozens of people gathered at Howard Street Cemetery in Northborough to partake in Wreaths Across America.
Dr. Richard Martino, a captain in the Navy, led the ceremony by calling on members of the community to lay veteran’s wreaths to honor each branch of the military.
Primarily organized by Northboro Junior Woman’s Club members Martha Michalewich and Susan Welton, they got involved out of a desire to honor the memories of Welton’s late husband and other veterans.
“I just think it’s a good thing to do to bring the community to honor veterans,” Michalewich said. “You can see by the turnout that people care about veterans, people really do, and it’s great to see.”
The cemetery has approximately 800 veteran graves and because of the outpouring of support, the organizers received enough donations to sponsor over 1,000 wreaths, the excess of which will go to the next Wreaths Across America event.
“We hope this is the first year of many,” Michalewich said.
The event was also organized by Boros Cares 4 Troops and American Legion Post 234. Algonquin Regional High School students also contributed with senior Ben Kahn and freshman Clark Bezzant performing “Taps” on the trumpet.
“Those who gave the supreme sacrifice during wartime give a huge portion of their lives to protect this country that we live in, and so, for me, it is the least I can do to play ‘Taps’ and sacrifice some of my time to honor and recognize them,” Kahn said.
