New wreaths placed on veterans' graves
Jesse Davis | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 10 months AGO
<p>From left, Cadet Capt. Tor Jackola and Cadet 2nd Lt. Chris Rodwick prepare to lay a wreath at the grave of a veteran on Friday morning at Glacier Memorial Gardens cemetery north of Kalispell. In early December wreaths were placed by members of the Flathead Composite Squadron MT053 of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol as part of the national Wreaths Across America campaign. Shortly thereafter 175 wreaths were stolen from the grave sites.</p>
<p>A newly placed wreath sits atop the grave of a veteran at Glacier Memorial Gardens cemetery on Friday morning north of Kalispell. Approximately $2,500 worth of wreaths were stolen from the graves in mid-December.</p>
<p>Paul Goedert, Montana Wing Cheif of Staff for the Civil Air Patrol, reads a statement at the second wreath- laying ceremony at Glacier Memorial Gardens north of Kalispell. The Civil Air Patrol was on site to replace wreaths stolen in mid-December from the graves of veterans.</p>
<p>Cadet 2nd Lt. Lizzy Rodwick positions the American flag at the start of the wreath ceremony on Friday at Glacier Memorial Gardens cemetery north of Kalispell.</p>
<p>Sarah Peterson and her mother, Mary Peterson, both of Columbia Falls, record the posting of the colors by the Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard on Friday morning at Glacier Memorial Gardens cemetery north of Kalispell. This is the second laying of wreaths on the graves of veterans. In mid-December 175 wreaths placed as part of the Wreaths Across America were stolen from the gravesites.</p>
Frigid weather didn't stop a group of spectators from showing their respect during a wreath rededication ceremony at Glacier Memorial Gardens late Friday morning.
Over the course of several days following the initial Dec. 9 ceremony, approximately 175 wreaths were stolen from veterans' gravesites at the cemetery north of Kalispell. Before the second ceremony, a veritable forest of small posts with a "V" written in marker on them stood bare throughout the cemetery where they once supported a wreath.
As reports of the crime spread, support and goodwill poured in from the community and from across the country.
"I got a lot of calls," said Dale Rodwick, senior member of the Flathead Composite Squadron MT053 of the Civil Air Patrol and location leader for Wreaths Across America. "I got some national calls as well. I got a lot of calls from people who were just upset, angry that this would even happen and I had a lot of people that didn't even know this thing happened to begin with, the whole Wreaths Across America."
Although he wasn't sure how many calls he received, Rodwick said about 40 percent were from locals and the remaining 60 percent came from across the country. He said they received vocal support from Wreaths Across America and Congress as well as concerned citizens.
"We appreciate everyone's support, especially family members that came out here to view the wreaths and found out there weren't any wreaths out there on the graves, and all the calls I got from those people," Rodwick said.
He shared the story of one woman who called him. Her father, a World War II veteran, is buried in Glacier Memorial Gardens.
"He had been in a B-24 and was shot down," Rodwick said. "It was on fire and he went to go out and he realized he was the only one left on the plane. He dove out, and was over Germany and was captured. He was a POW there in Germany for two years. So she was pretty emotional about that. But we did put a wreath on his grave and she was very thankful."
That was just one of hundreds of stories behind the gravestones of Glacier Memorial Gardens. Rodwick said there are roughly 850 veterans buried in the cemetery.
"This is our mini Arlington," he said.
Roughly 100,000 wreaths were placed at the Arlington National Cemetery by Wreaths Across America this year.
There was a bittersweet nature to the ceremony, however. Rodwick said they were still short close to 100 replacement wreaths and that they would not be able to replace them this year. The Worcester Wreath Co. of Maine is done manufacturing the wreaths for the year and has geared up for other operations.
Still, Rodwick was excited for the coming years of the Wreaths Across America program. He said the incident in Kalispell has opened eyes of people in the valley and across the country of people who didn't know about the program.
"I think next year we're going to see a lot more wreaths being placed," Rodwick said. "I know there's going to be a lot of them placed here next year. We're going to make sure that we cover every one of them."
The resilience of the local Civil Air Patrol and its members' dedication to honoring deceased local veterans was best related by the words of Paul Goedert, chief of staff of the Montana wing of the Civil Air Patrol, as he read a statement during the rededication service.
"To honor our nation's fallen veterans, we give our time, talent and treasure to keep alive the spirit of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms," Goedert said. "These valiant men and women were no different than you and I, they all had someone who loved them and missed them very deeply when they did not return from their war.
"No man lives his life completely when he lives it selfishly. The Wreaths Across America program provides every Civil Air Patrol member with a golden opportunity to honor those who have paved the way for this valuable cadet program. We should be humbled every time we stoop to lay a wreath on a veteran's gravesite, giving thanks to that individual's courage and commitment to this great nation of ours. Because in order for freedom to be passed from one generation to the next, it must be fought for."
Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.