VETERANS HONORED IN WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA CEREMONIES

By Scott Serio

BEAR, DE - What started as a simple way for a Maine man to pay tribute to veterans at Christmas with surplus wreaths was on full display in Delaware this weekend. Hundreds of volunteers helped lay 6,482 wreaths at the sprawling

Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery as part of the annual Wreaths Across America. Just over the state line from Chesapeake City in Bear, the cemetery was one of more than 3,400 in the United States and abroad that helped carry out Morrill Worcester’s vision that start- ed in 1992.

Before fanning out to place wreaths at the grave sites of the veterans, a service of remembrance was held at the cemetery. Delaware Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long spoke. Family members of those interred there spoke as well. World War II veteran Sgt Werner

H. Schlaupitz, who still runs marathons at the age of 99, was in attendance. It was a community affair to remember those who served our country.

Local coordinator Eric Lauppe, a veteran himself, urged the volunteers to say the name of each veteran at whose grave they were laying a wreath after recalling an old adage that says, “A soldier dies twice: once when they take their final breath, and later, the last time their name is spoken.”; After most volunteers had left, a pair of Boy Scouts could be seen going from grave to grave, rendering a salute, and saying the name of the veteran. In 2021, Wreaths Across America was responsible for the placement of 2.4 million wreaths, including 250,000 at Arlington National Cemetery. see photos on B-2

By Scott Serio

COLORA - It was a familiar scenario for the Tome Titans as they visited West Nottingham last week for a boys basketball matchup between Cecil County private schools. The Titans were short on personnel, undersized, they still managed to make a game of it against the Rams until the fourth quarter and eventually fell 59-50.

For both squads it was a see-saw affair with few fouls, small leads and both teams raining threes in the opening period. Between the Ram and the Titans, nine treys led