Wreaths Across America Ceremony Honors Danbury Veterans

Jan. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- DANBURY, CT (15 December 2012) – Community members, veterans, and students gathered at Old Kenosia Cemetery on Kenosia Avenue at 11a.m. to participate in a wreath laying ceremony in honor of U.S. Veterans. The ceremony was held under the auspices of Wreaths Across America, a non-profit organization that began the tradition of laying wreaths during the holidays to honor veterans in 1992.

The wreaths arrived with an escort provided by the Harley Owners Group (HOG), Danbury CT Chapter. Captain Ralph Langham, from the 399th Danbury Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol, conducted the ceremonies. Members of the 11th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, a Civil War re-enacting unit, escorted members of the Korean War Veterans Association and cadet members of Danbury’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (CT-021) to veterans grave sites to reverently lay the wreaths. HOG members solemnly passed the 33 wreaths to waiting officers. The ceremony ended with the playing of taps.

Captain Ralph Langham, organizer of the event said, “I’d like to thank Wreaths Across America in Maine for providing the wreaths; Union Savings Bank, Ridgefield Women's Club and others who wish to remain anonymous for providing the financing. Thanks to the Danbury Harley Owners Group for escorting the wreaths from New Fairfield to Wooster Cemetery, then to Old Kenosia. I would also like to thank the Danbury High School Junior Air Force ROTC, under the guidance of their cadet commander Marissa Maccarone, for providing us with their honor guard and cadets to place the wreaths. Finally I want to thank the representatives of the Danbury Veterans Organizations and the 11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry for providing the honor guards that formalized the ceremonies into a truly American experience.”