By Doug Otto
The Colony Club of Ocean City honored the service of area veterans by placing wreaths on graves at the Gerald M. Thornton Veterans Cemetery of Cape May County on Dec. 17.
Each December, the Wreaths Across America organization asks local groups to remember and honor veterans by conducting wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 3,500 additional locations in all 50 states.
“The Colony Club was pleased to again have the opportunity to join a grateful nation in saying thank you to our veterans,” said Cathy Solarski, chairwoman of her club’s Wreaths Across America Committee.
She continued, “Our members partnered with the American Legion Post 524 Auxiliary, The Exchange Club of Ocean City and the Godfrey Funeral Homes to donate and place 219 wreaths, which were combined with additional wreaths from the national Wreaths Across America group.”
The Colony Club of Ocean City, part of the General Federation and New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs, is a volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to developing and supporting programs and projects that improve the community.
Colony Club members gather prior to this year’s Wreaths Across American ceremony at the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery.
Fifteen Colony Club members, friends and family joined several American Legion participants at the wreath laying ceremony. Following an introduction by David Louderback, Director of Cape May County Division of Veterans Services, the Middle Township High School Navy Cadet Program and Cape May County Air Patrol Squadron, presented the colors and played Taps.
After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing God Bless America, participants fanned out across the 17.6 acre cemetery grounds to salute interred veterans and place wreaths on over 600 grave markers.
And the Cape May County Civil Air Patrol Squadron display the colors while Wreaths Across America participants salute.
The wreaths are handcrafted of balsam vines and hand tied with red velvet bows at the Wreaths Across America headquarters in Columbia Falls, Maine, and then shipped to each ceremony location. The program began in 1992 to help teach American history, what it means to serve in the military and to understand the value of freedom.
More information about the Colony Club of Ocean City can be found at: https://colonyclubocnj.wordpress.com.
