The American Legion Family of Essex County, N.J. – which includes veterans, Sons and Auxiliary members – participated in Wreaths Across America on Dec. 13. With a focus to “Remember Honor, and Teach”, Wreaths Across America Day was celebrated by the Legion Essex County organization at four locations in North Jersey, concluding at Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Cemetery in Wrightstown.
“It is why we as SALs exist,” notes Rusty Myers of Nutley Post 70, who has coordinated the SAL’s participation for five years. “We’re here to remember and honor our collective heritage of service to this country – and Wreaths Across America is a perfect way to show our commitment to Americanism.”
Since 2020, members from an SAL squadron in Essex County began participating at the ceremonies at Doyle Cemetery, New Jersey's largest veteran’s cemetery with over 90,000 burials. Since then, Essex’s participation has widened to include veteran participants, as well as members from the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) and other Sons squadrons from throughout the “Excellent County of Essex.”
This year, participation was coordinated by the new SAL Essex County Executive Committee, a group made up of representatives from Essex’s seven squadrons. This was the first project the committee donated to, alongside Post 70 of Nutley and Unit 105 of Belleville. The three groups purchased 38 wreaths, with 34 of them donated directly to Doyle Cemetery.
“To honor and remember our veterans and the sacrifices they and their families made, is a powerful reminder of why we are afforded the liberties we have,” Unit 105 President Debbie Hall said.
The day began at 7 am, with wreaths presented at the graves of family and friends at Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield and Holy Cross in North Arlington. After that, the group made their way to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Wayne.
“Wreaths Across America embodies Americanism by honoring service and sacrifice”, noted Unit 105 Vice President Marcy Caruso. “Placing a wreath on my father's grave, and on others as well, made that remembrance deeply personal and meaningful.”
The event at Doyle began with a ceremony at noon. Twenty-five wreaths were placed aside for the Essex Legion Family so they could be presented at the final resting place of 25 veterans who have a connection with them.
