Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Squadron 105, along with some of the post's veterans and American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) members, took a trip for the third year in a row to Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, New Jersey to participate in Wreaths Across America Day on December 16, 2023. The squadron donated $350 worth of wreaths for the day, as did American Legion Post 105. The squadron’s wreaths went to Doyle Cemetery, Lakeview Cemetery in Cinnaminson, Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, Belleville’s St. Peters and Glendale Cemeteries, and to Washington DC’s Arlington National Cemetery.
For the third year in a row, Belleville’s SAL 105 has taken the 90-minute trip south to NJ’s largest state veterans cemetery, where over 88,000 veterans are interred. This year, 13 participants placed 11 wreaths in Wrightstown on an unseasonably warm day for mid-December (over 50 degrees with clear skies).
Upon the conclusion of the opening ceremony, the Belleville 105 family began working on tracking down the 11 specific veterans on their list of those to honor. About a month beforehand, the squadron began making a list of friends, family, and fellow Belleville and Nutleyites who are buried in the cemetery. At each grave, the wreath was ceremoniously laid down by a 105 member who was connected to that veteran, with his or her name read out loud, thanking them for their service. From World War II to Korean War to Vietnam War veterans, these heroes’ stories ran the scope of service and sacrifice to this country. One of them was a veteran killed-in-action in the Pacific who was recently returned home. One was an Iwo Jima Marine, one was even a Pearl Harbor survivor, and another was in the Coast Guard in WWII’s Operation Torch. Some were Bronze Star or Purple Heart recipients, and one was a three-time Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) holder, of which there are only about 230 in American history. To whomever the wreath was presented, the moment was very poignant and moving to those watching.
SAL 105’s Kyle Brady, who attended for the first time, placed a wreath at World War II veteran Guilliano Fergonese’s grave. “The vast fields of what seemed like endless graves and the substantial amount of people that came to pay their respects to all the men and women who served our country was truly a sight to see.” William Chivil, another SAL first-time attendee, echoed the same. “It was an honor and a privilege that I will not soon forget."