COEUR d’ALENE — Though not a veteran, Helen Nelson donned the iconic red of the Marine Corps on Dec. 13 as she laid wreaths on the graves of those who have served the country.  

The bright red stood out against the muted greens and grays of the chilly morning, a symbol of devotion and remembrance. 

“I do it for my brother,” Nelson said. 

Her brother, Robert J. Gordon, was only 19 years old when he was killed in the line of duty in 1969.  

His youth lingered in the air as Nelson spoke, a reminder that many of the names etched into stone belonged to sons and daughters who never had the chance to grow old. 

Courageous men and women like Gordon were honored Dec. 13 in the yearly Wreaths Across America ceremony, which saw around 3 million wreaths laid at over 5,600 memorial sites across the country. Those sites included the Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens and the Pinegrove Cemetery in Rathdrum.  

Rows of fresh balsam wreaths, trimmed with bright red bows, transformed the cemeteries into places of beauty and reflection. 

The ceremony has been made possible since 2007 through donations.

Around 100 people laid wreaths throughout the Memorial Gardens. The morning was quiet save for the sound of taps being played and the echoes of people saying the names of each veteran they honored with a wreath.  

“We’re so blessed to have a community that reaches out to our veterans,” Nelson said. 

Nationwide, over 93,000 wreaths were laid to symbolize known prisoners of war or those missing in action. A wreath was also laid to represent each branch of the military, in addition to a symbolic wreath honoring Gold Star families — a reminder that sacrifice can take many forms. 

Marty Behm with the Kiwanis Club called the ceremony “a united front of gratitude and respect.” 

“We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free,” he said. “We will not forget you.” 

Behm encouraged those in attendance to remember the fallen veterans not for their deaths, but their lives.

“It’s a small act that goes a long way,” he said. 

The ceremony also invoked the true spirit of Christmas, Coeur d’Alene Mayor Woody McEvers told the crowd. 

“It is in acts of love, in remembrance,” McEvers said. 

    Marine Corps veteran Randy Hildebrand salutes after laying a wreath in the Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens on Saturday.
  

    The North Idaho Color Guard presents the colors during the Wreaths Across America ceremony in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
  

    Over three million wreaths were laid at memorial sites across the country on Saturday, including hundreds at the graves of veterans in the Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.