JERSEY SHORE – Wreaths Across America’s mission is to “Remember, Honor and Teach.” Throughout the year, the organization works in multiple ways to show veterans and their families that the community will “never forget.”
The remembrance wreaths are laid in memory of those who have served in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines.
The initiative not only happens every December at Arlington National Ceremony, but also at more than 4,000 additional participating locations across the country.
In Brick Township, the Brick Historic Preservation Commission hosted two ceremonies on December 14: Gravelly Graveyard on Fairview Avenue, and at the Osbornville Protestant Church at 588 Mantoloking Road.
2024 marked the 6th year that Wreaths Across America Ceremony was held at Gravelly Graveyard. The graveyard, which is also known as Old Woolley Cemetery, is the oldest burial ground within present day Brick Township. It holds a total of 11 veteran graves.
A solemn ceremony was performed at Bayville Cemetery to remember the soldiers. (Photo courtesy Jan Bernardino)
The Brick Historic Preservation Commission was joined by Mayor Lisa Crate and members of the council, along with dedicated volunteers who helped lay the wreaths.
At Osbornville Protestant Church, the group honored the 60 plus veterans that are buried at the cemetery.
Additional ceremonies also took place at the Kettle Creek Cemetery on Birch Drive and the 1st Baptist Church of Laurelton at 1836 Route 88.
At Kettle Creek Cemetery, around 24 veterans rest there who have served in the Civil War, WWI, WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Wreaths were also laid at a number of other locations, such as West Creek Cemetery in Eagleswood, Good Luck Cemetery in Lacey, and Greenwood Cemetery in Manahawkin.
In Berkeley, the Police Department escorted a truck delivering 145 wreaths to the Bayville Elks 2394, said Jan S. Bernardino, who is the Veterans Committee Co-Chair for the Elks. There, volunteers gathered which included members of the Elks, Friends of the Bayville Cemetery, elected officials and more.
They travelled to Bayville Cemetery and performed the solemn ceremony remembering the lives lost and thanking them for the sacrifices they made.
Volunteers lay wreaths at Gravelly Graveyard to remember those who served. (Photo courtesy Brick Township)
“Kelley Butler from Friends of the Bayville Cemetery started this event in Bayville about four years ago with Wreaths Across America and has passed the baton to me,” Bernardino said. “It’s an amazing event to pay respects for those who have fought and represented our country.”
In Toms River, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 20, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Toms River Police, and Scout Troop 36 were among the groups who laid wreaths at Riverside Cemetery, said Marc Steuer, Vice President of FOP Lodge 10.
There are 1,700 veterans buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Toms River. Volunteers there had a massive undertaking to raise the funds to purchase wreaths, not to mention recruiting the manpower (and Scoutpower) to place them.
The Howell Heritage and Historical Society, the Farmingdale Historical Society and the Farmingdale Evergreen Cemetery Committee brought the organization to Howell by conducting wreath-laying ceremonies on the graves of veterans at Cedar Lawn Southard Cemetery, Evergreen Cemetery, Adelphia Cemetery and Ardena Baptist Cemetery.
Scout groups and other volunteers presented wreaths on veterans’ graves at Cedar Lawn/Southard Cemetery. (Photo courtesy Leigh Shaffer)
According to Leigh Shaffer, president of the Farmingdale Historical Society and vice president of the Howell Heritage and Historical Society, there were over 800 Howell veteran burial sites that were presented with wreaths.
As part of the ceremonies, the names of the interred veterans were read aloud in honor of their memory. These readings were also done at Abner Thorp Cemetery, Brewer Cemetery, Lower Squankum Burial Ground and Jerseyville Cemetery.
Chris Lundy and Liz Ciocher contributed to this story.
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