Farmers Weekly Review

By Stephanie Irvine

Drenching rain and 40 degree weather didn’t stop hundreds of people from attending the December 16 Wreaths Across America ceremony and wreath-laying event that took place at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

The event occurs simultaneously at national cemeteries across the country and is open to the public. This year, sponsors made it possible for 36,000 wreaths to be placed at graves at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery, which is up from last year’s total of 28,000.

Four people visited this fallen soldier’s grave: The penny signifies one person visiting; each quarter represents a person who was with the deceased on the battlefield when he was killed.
(Photo by Mark Schneidewind)

The ceremony began at 11 a.m. and honored each branch of the military. It included the singing of the National Anthem, special remarks, a prayer, and presentation of colors. The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad performed military honors including rifle volleys and the playing of taps. Wreath-laying occurred after the ceremony.

The event was well-attended and drew people from all over. Some volunteers were there to place a wreath in honor of loved ones buried in the cemetery. Others simply wanted to do some good this holiday season by honoring those at rest at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery with the placement of a wreath.

Cheryl Hansan attended to place a wreath for her dad, Robert Fletcher, who was a United States Navy World War II veteran. “The experience is beautiful. Bittersweet. We enjoy it.”

Her husband, Wally, a Marine veteran, learned of the event through the veteran’s groups. They are from Orland Park. He shared of his father-in-law’s service that he was “stationed in the San Clemente refueling base during World War II.”

Shermon Brown of South Holland was there with members of his family and from his church.

“We wanted to help out with laying wreaths for the soldiers,” he said. “My father-in-law was a veteran, and he and my mother-in-law are buried here. I have a good friend, Frank Edwards, who is buried here as well. It’s a good opportunity to come out here to give honor to the soldiers and my family.”

From Elmhurst, Tim Grebs, United States Air Force veteran and current reservist, brought his three kids out for their first trip to a National Cemetery for the event. He was active duty for 12 years and has been a reservist for the past eight years. His kids were each born in a different state depending on where he was stationed: Mississippi, Arizona and Georgia, all while he was on active duty.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Grebs said. His three kids each had big smiles as they laid wreaths in the inclement weather.

Grebs explained that he “wanted to give (his kids) the experience of doing something good for the holidays,” which truly embodies the event’s purpose.

Wreaths Across America is a nationwide volunteer-led effort that seeks to “Remember, Honor, and Teach.” The event in Elwood drew in hundreds of returning wreath-laying volunteers, as well as newcomers.

Meredith Deleon was a first-year volunteer at Wreaths of America and volunteered through her employer, Trans United, which was there along with Marvin Johnson and Green APU.

“We just wanted to support our veterans,” she said of the company’s decision to volunteer. “We have lots of veterans who work for us, so we came out here to lay wreaths and honor all of our veterans.”

According to the website for the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery event, 53 groups — including veteran non-profits, companies, scouts, and other organizations — support the effort and make it possible. Individuals can also purchase wreaths online in advance of the event.

Returning again this year was Christie Lawrence, who has volunteered at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Wreaths Across America for the past 10 years. She lays a wreath for her grandparents who are both buried at the cemetery.

“It’s very touching and moving to watch,” she said. “Sad to hear all of the loss, but it’s a nice tribute to those who have passed away from the different service branches.”

Volunteerism makes the annual event possible, from those purchasing and laying wreaths to those serving as parking lot attendants, wreath guards, those who participated in the ceremony, and more.

Due to limited parking at the cemetery, shuttle buses made seemingly endless trips shuttling volunteers from off-site parking destinations to the event. The popularity of the event and limited parking did lead to lengthy shuttle delays, but attendees made the best of it with some singing Christmas carols as they waited.

The Will County Farm Bureau has been in involved for the past several years, unloading the semis full of wreaths that come in several loads from Maine, and holding them at their farms until the day of the event.

Between the rain, several thousand more loads of wreaths and the “crazy traffic” at 7 a.m. the day of the event, the Farm Bureau was thankful to get an assist during the procession to the cemetery from additional county sheriff’s police, said Farm Bureau Manager Mark Schneidewind.

The 85 volunteers from the Farm Bureau also stayed around to help unload, and then headed over to a biscuits and gravy breakfast put on for them in Symerton, where they could dry off and warm up a bit.

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery currently has about 68,000 graves, but has the capacity for 400,000 burial spaces when fully developed. The cemetery grounds span 982 acres. The goal is to provide wreaths for every grave. Each year, the organization gets closer to accomplishing that goal, but more volunteers and wreaths are still needed.

In January, a wreath-retirement event will be held. At the time of publication, the 2024 date had not yet been announced; however, be sure to check the Wreaths Across America – Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Facebook page for updates as they will need volunteers to help remove the wreaths.

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter. Editor Nick Reiher also contributed to this story.

Veterans and visitors honored those buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery during the December 16 Wreaths Across America program.

The program before the wreath-laying included the playing of the National Anthem and of taps.

Tim Grebs of Elmhurst, United States Air Force veteran and current reservist, brought his three kids out for their first trip to a National Cemetery for the event. He was active duty for 12 years and has been a reservist for the past eight years. (Photos by Stephanie Irvine)