Wreaths laid on veterans' graves
By John Joyce
Published in News on December 13, 2015 3:05 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Caroline, 12, and Claiborne, 17, Smith watch as their mother, Kim, places a wreath on the grave of a veteran during Wreaths Across America on Saturday at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.
Fair skies and warm weather greeted Wayne County residents as they filed into to Evergreen Memorial Cemetery Saturday at noon to participate in the third annual Wreaths Across America event to honor local fallen heroes.
A motorcade of nearly 100 motorcycles -- comprised mostly of veterans and of family members of veterans -- preceded two military vehicles laden with wreaths to be laid at the graves of veterans.
Emily Tucker brought the national event to Wayne County three years ago and this year handed the reins over to her mother, Tawnya Tucker, to coordinate the event.
"I've been really swamped and she has taken over a lot of it," Ms. Tucker said.
Ms. Tucker -- formerly Miss Goldsboro and now serving as Miss Greater Sampson County -- attended a veteran's memorial in Fayetteville two years ago and witnessed Wreaths Across America in action for the first time.
"I just thought to myself, 'Why was it not in Goldsboro?'" she said. "With Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and such a strong military presence here, we have many, many veterans laid to rest here, I just thought that it was something that really needed to be brought to this area."
Mrs. Tucker, now in charge of orchestrating the event with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition, local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts and countless other groups, organizations and individuals, said she was pleased with the turnout.
"I think it has grown a lot. More people know about it," she said.
Her initial goal was to secure 525 wreaths for Saturday's event, and up until last week it looked as though she might fall short of the mark. But her supporters came through for her, she said.
"We ended up getting 570, so we have surpassed that and the extra wreaths will be taken by the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition and given to the VFW and other groups to be taken to other cemeteries," she said.
Prior to the wreath laying, tributes were held to the fallen men and women of each branch of service. Following the opening ceremony, those who had signed up in advance to place a wreath on a particular grave were allowed to go first.
Trellis Phillips -- her husband, Edward, served 26 years in the Air Force and was a disabled veteran -- said ceremonies like Saturday's are important examples for young people.
"I think we have to come and remember so that our younger generation will realize the price that has been paid," she said.
Mrs. Phillips' friend, Nita Crites, attended the 2014 wreath laying and invited her along this year. She said her husband had served as a senior master sergeant in the Air Force.
"He is buried here in this cemetery. He served in Korea. He served 20 years," she said.
Closing comments belonged to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base 4th Fighter Wing Vice Commander Col. Andrew Bernard.
"Wayne County and Goldsboro are such strong supporters of everything we do in the military," he said. "The bond between the community and the base is so strong. There is no tighter network, no tighter community than what we have right here," Bernard said. "For me, to play my part between the base, the city, the county and the community, it's phenomenal."