Park City, Summit County joins national movement to honor veterans with memorial wreaths

The Wreaths Across America ceremony on Dec. 14 at the Park City Cemetary. Photo: Tori Osorio

PARK CITY, Utah — Summit County Sheriff’s mounted patrol units joined local organizations this weekend in honoring veterans through the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony, with memorial wreaths placed at multiple Summit County locations.

The Sheriff’s mounted patrol assisted families at Francis, Woodland, Marion, Oakley, and Peoa cemeteries. At Park City Cemetery, 40 members of the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) and members of the Park City Sunrise Rotary Club participated in a special ceremony where 170 veterans’ graves received wreaths.

The YMSL of Park City, a mother-son volunteer organization just over a year old, has grown to 166 members and contributed more than 2,200 hours of service to local non-profit organizations in their first year.

Bobbi Williams, who represents the National Society Daughter’s of the American Revolution, and Barbara Holmen of the Park City Sunrise Rotary Club co-organized the local event. Williams is the mother of Commander Shelby Hladon, JAGC retired navy veteran and YMSL member.

There were presenters of wreaths for every branch of service. They included: Retired Army Major John O’ Brien, retired US Marine Corps Major Larry Gwin, Ken Miller who served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant, retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Eric Armentrout, retired US Air Force AJX Colonel Tom Kettel for the US Space Force, Molly Dillon (her husband was a Lieutenant in the US Coast Guard), Diane Jillian (her sons both attended the US Merchant Marine Academy), Wendy Kohn, who’s son is currently serving in the US Marine Corps (for POW/MIA and Gold and Blue Star families and Cheryl Thompson for Peace.

In a Facebook post, the Summit County Sheriff wrote: “The wreaths are comprised of 10 special qualities (bouquets) that all veterans embody – Belief (in a greater good), Love, Strength, Honesty, Humility, Ambition, Optimism, Concern (for the future), Pride and Hopes & Dreams.”

Wreaths Across America began in 1992 when Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester found himself with a surplus of holiday wreaths. Remembering a boyhood visit to Arlington National Cemetery, he arranged to place those wreaths on veterans’ graves. What started as a private annual tribute has grown into a nationwide movement that in 2023 placed three million wreaths at 4,224 locations across the country. The effort involved more than three million volunteers, with over a third being children. At Arlington National Cemetery alone, 68 tractor-trailers delivered 259,000 wreaths, which more than 30,000 volunteers helped place.

The mission of the organization is, “Remember the fallen, Honor those that serve and their families, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom.”