Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Three short videos are Courtesy of Wreaths Across America

The mission of the organization Wreaths Across America is to Remember our veterans, Honor our veterans, and Teach our children and adults what veterans have done for their country.

The WAA mobile education unit was manned by two ambassadors, Robert Z. Easley and Richard Schneider, who was also the driver of the unit. Posters and videos accomplished the teaching aspects of the WAA mission.

The free event was sponsored by American Legion Post 18, the Jacob Bennett Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, and Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

The local annual Wreaths Across American held at Fort Bayard National Cemetery takes place each December. A committee of dedicated volunteers has been leading the effort to place a wreath at every gravestone and marker at the cemetery. Donors throughout the community have supported the group since its beginning in 2009.

In the past seven years the committee, thanks to generous community donors, has succeeded in having enough wreaths to see every stone and marker adorned with a wreath in order to honor each veteran's service to country.

This author/photographer especially liked seeing the process of each wreath, which has 10 balsam bouquets representing 10 special qualities that our veterans embody. 

1) They BELIEVE in the greater good.

2) Their LOVE for each other

3) Their STRENGTH, work ethic and character

4) Their HONESTY and integrity

5) Their HUMILITY, selflessness and modesty

6) Their AMBITIONS and aspirations

7) Their OPTIMISM for America

8) Their CONCERN for the future

9) Their PRIDE in their duties

10) Their HOPES and DREAMS that didn't always come true, but left them with no regrets.

For more information on how you can volunteer and support Wreaths Across American at Fort Bayard National Cemetery, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

For many more short and long videos, visit https://www.youtube.com/@WreathsAcrossAmerica/videos 

For information on the organization and its locations, please visit https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/ 

To pause the slide show, mouse over the image.