Colony Club Participates in Wreaths Across America

By DOUG OTTO For the second consecutive year, 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. 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 2,100 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, chair of her club’s Wreaths Across America committee. She added, “Our members, along with members from The Exchange Club of Ocean City and American Legion Post 524 Auxiliary, donated thousands of dollars and sponsored 195 wreaths, which were combined with additional wreaths from other local organizations.” Ceremonial wreaths are dedicated prior to being placed at the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery. 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. This year’s outreach effort was expanded by adding sponsorships from The Exchange Club of Ocean City and American Legion Post 524 Auxiliary. Fourteen Colony Club members, friends and family joined seven American Legion participants at the Dec. 18 wreath laying ceremony, following an invocation by military personnel and the reading of the names of honored veterans. The wreaths are hand-crafted 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. More information about the Colony Club of Ocean City can be found at: https://colonyclubocnj.wordpress.com.