Wreaths Across America

SkillsUSA Community Service Project, competitors Bryn, Nia, and Sophia organized student council, members of our Legal and Protective shop C.E.R.T. Team, Honor Society and other skills members. All volunteers worked with “Wreaths Across America” on Saturday December 18th. This marks our national day to recognize all branches and members of the military that have passed.

We had thirty-one students, four advisors, and two officers from Bristol County Sheriff’s Office along with K-9. Our students carried themselves as professional young adults with teamwork  and integrity. The ceremony was emotional, meaningful and educational. A few of the students have a personal connection to the National Cemetery in Bourne due to a family member. The National Cemetery is located in Bourne on a 749-acre tract on the 22,000-acre Otis Air Force Base. We learned that this year there were twenty thousand wreaths sponsored.

Other volunteers shared stories, experiences, and common practice. One common practice of leaving a coin on the headstone:

* Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited.

* A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together.

* A dime means you served with the deceased in some capacity.

* A quarter means you are telling the family that you were with the soldier when the deceased was killed.

GNBVT SkillsUSA hopes to continue this partnership project in the future.