Local Heroes Honored by Wreaths Across America at Allentown Park

Three thousand live balsam remembrance wreaths now grace the graves of veterans at Cedar Hill Memorial Park in Allentown.

On Saturday Dec. 13, a few hundred local volunteers representing military youth organizations, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, and businesses such as Nestle Waters gathered to honor fallen servicemen and women and their families.

In a short remembrance ceremony, active duty military members laid seven ceremonial wreaths for the fallen, and the Blue Star Mothers, who have children actively serving in the military, presented wreaths to local Gold Star moms who have children who lost their lives in military service.

For Carol Resh, a Gold Star Mother and event organizer, the mission of Wreaths Across America is personal. Her son, Army Capt. Mark Resh, was one of the fallen servicemen honored at Cedar Hill Memorial Park on Saturday after the helicopter he piloted was shot down during a battle in Iraq in 2007.

Resh greeted the crowd on Saturday to thank them for joining thousands of volunteers nationally and reminded them of the WAA mission.“As most of you know, the mission of Wreaths Across America is remember the fallen, honor veterans and their families, and teach our children the value of freedom,” Resh said.

The 3,000 wreaths at Cedar Hill – paid for by local donors, many of whom came to lay them personally – were among 700,000 wreaths placed at headstones across 1,000 sites across the country and overseas to accomplish that mission this holiday season.

Article and photos contributions of Kerrin Garripoli