Messenger photos by Dedra Cordle Residents of the southwest and westside communities gathered at Concord Cemetery in Grove City on Dec. 17 to participate in Wreaths Across America, a nationwide commemorative event whose mission is to remember the country’s fallen veterans, honor those who currently serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom. Among those who laid wreaths at the final resting place of local members of the armed forces was Trenton McCall, a freshman at Central Crossing High School. McCall is a cadet with the school’s NJROTC program which has sponsored the ceremony at the cemetery for the past two years. He is pictured here placing a wreath at the gravesite of Oliver Jones, a member of the Army who served in World War II.Central Crossing High School senior Brice Wotring salutes the flag of the country and the flags of the branches of the military during the ceremony.Sgt. Ralph Teague places a commemorative wreath on the stand for members of the U.S. Space Force.American Legion Post 164 Honor Guard members Pat Thompson, Jim Deckant, and Ralph Teague (pictured left to right) perform a salute after the opening remarks.Grove City resident Millie Siers brushes a bit of snow off the headstone of veteran Vernon A. Young before placing the wreath near his name. She said she and her husband, Matt, wanted to attend the ceremony to pay their respects to deceased veterans and “do something good” for the community that day.Josue Orellana, a student at Westland High School, grabs an armful of wreaths to place them at the gravesites of veterans resting in the far corners of the Concord Cemetery. According to Melissa Kindler, the president of the Central Crossing High School’s NJROTC Booster Club, more than 751 wreaths were placed at the gravesites of veterans during the ceremony.
