A YUM Publication
No. 6 Vol. 1
JANUARY 2024
Wreaths Across America Holds Heartfelt Service at Holy Sepulchre
Photo credit: The Township of Little Falls The Wreaths Across America ceremony was held at Holy Sepulchre Ceremony to honor veterans on Dec. 16. Cathy Pagano, coordinator, welcomes attendees to the ceremony.
By Tina Pappas sunny and mild December day was the perfect weather for the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony. A sea of wreaths decorated Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, as many gathered to honor veterans in a heartfelt ceremony on Dec. 16. National Wreaths Across America Day, a nonprofit organization, aims to remember, honor, and teach the value of freedom by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. Ceremonies are also held at additional locations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Individuals can sponsor a wreath or volunteer at events. Cathy Pagano, location coordinator for Holy Sepulchre Cemetery for Wreaths Across America, welcomed attendees and said that she is very proud that 4,500 wreaths were assembled for the event. "We are so proud that we had wreaths sponsored by so many people and that's a tremendous accomplishment," she said, adding that the event is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community to honor all veterans. The ceremony kicked of with The Pledge of Allegiance followed by The National Anthem, sung by Nadia Malik. The vocation was given by Rev. Peter Wells of the Diocese of Paterson, "People are gathering to hundreds and hundreds of cemeteries throughout our country to honor, pay respects and give tribute to our veterans," he said. He then encouraged those attendees who planned to place wreaths at veteran headstones to not only look at the name, but also the branch of service and the year. He also said some veteran graves stem back to those who fought in the Civil War. "We honor them, we give them tribute, we thank them
for their service and may they never be forgotten," he added. Michael Coscia, School Board President for Passaic County Technical-Vocational Schools (PCTVS), also spoke during the ceremony and said PCTVS continues to support veterans throughout the year. "We do various things to help the veterans, especially during Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Pearl Harbor Day, 9/11, etc.," he explained. "It's always about the kids and we talk to them about the past, and streamline that throughout the schools. Our student council is here today also assisting with this event." The PCTVS Student Council then raised a wreath signifying a branch of service in the military. The United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, United States Coast Guard, United States Merchant Marines, and United States Space Force,
(From left) PCTVS School Board President Michael Coscia, PCTVS Director of Communications Sandy Woods, and Cathy Pagano, location coordinator for Holy Sepulchre Cemetery for Wreaths Across America.
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The PCTVS Student Council raise the wreaths to honor veterans representing each branch of the military at the Wreaths Across America ceremony on Dec. 16.
each had a wreath raised for its service area. "Each wreath will be raised in honor of the those who served - past and present - and in the particular service unit," added Pagano. She also emphasized that the last wreath raised is in honor of the United States servicemen from all over the world with their last known status as Prisoner of War/Missing in Action. A firing detail then shot in the air to honor those fallen veterans. Sandy Woods, Director of Communications for PCTVS, said the district is very proud and honored to be part of the event. "We have been associated with Wreaths Across America as a national initiative for the past five years" she added. "Each year it grows and grows and we are so happy to instill a culture of patriotism and thankfulness to our veterans and families for all their sacrifices, so we thank them."
A volunteer lays a wreath at a veteran’s grave during the Wreaths Across America ceremony in Totowa on Dec. 16.
Mirian Tanis, Cemetery Manager for Holy Sepulchre and Calvary Cemetery, also spoke during the ceremony and thanked everyone for attending. She also commended Pagano for her efforts in coordinating the ceremony. "She works tirelessly," she said. "The love she has for this country, for veterans and for all of our families is absolutely amazing."