GREENFIELD — Greenfield’s Sam’s Club Distribution Center was a stop on the journey of a Walmart truck driving across the country to deliver wreaths to the graves of veterans and first-responders during the holiday season, part of a national effort called Wreaths Across America.
The logistics center, 488 W. Muskegon Drive, held a luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 11, for local police and firefighters in celebration of the Wreaths Across America event and in thanks for their service.
“It’s an event that we have this time every year, in honor of the ones that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” operations manager Steve Todd said. “It acts as a memorial and remembrance.”
Police and fire personnel who attended the event said they appreciated the recognition and the chance to remember those who have died in the line of duty.
“It’s exciting to be a part of the event, and it’s great that they choose Greenfield to stop by,” Greenfield Fire Chief James Roberts said.
Greenfield Police Chief Jeff Rasche said the department appreciated the invitation.
“To remember and honor those we’ve lost and those who are currently serving is something we need to do more often, and this is just a little way we can do it,” Rasche said.
Walmart is a major supporter of the event, purchasing 15,000 wreaths for placement at national cemeteries and 9/11 memorial sites across the United States, including Arlington National Cemetery. Sixteen Walmart trucks will deliver the wreaths to various cemeteries across the United States in coming days.
Each of the trucks makes several stops on its way from Maine, where the wreaths are manufactured by the Worcester Wreath Co., to its ultimate destination. The one that stopped in Greenfield was on its way to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
Wreaths across America began in 2008 as an extension of the Arlington National Cemetery wreath project, which was started in 1992 with the annual placement of wreaths donated by Worcester Wreath Co. Today, many organizations, companies and veterans’ groups donate wreaths. For more information, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.
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Fortville chapters of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold their own Wreaths Across America event on Saturday, Dec. 14. The groups will place wreaths on the graves of local veterans at Gravel Lawn Cemetery beginning at noon. Organizer Misty Rambis said the groups have raised funds to place more wreaths than in any previous year.
Look for coverage of the event in the Daily Reporter on Tuesday, Dec 17.
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