ALLENTOWN, Pa., — Assistant Scoutmaster David Fehnel and his son DJ, a First Class scout in Troop 32 from Whitehall, were overcome with emotion as they knelt at his parents' graves at Cedar Hill Memorial Park in Allentown Saturday.
It was Wreaths Across America Day, a 34-year tradition in place to honor, teach about, and never forget, the sacrifices military members have made for our freedoms.
It was the 13th year Cedar Hill participated.
Fehnel and son had just placed a fresh green wreath with a red bow at the gravestone of his father, who was a Private 1st Class soldier in the Army.
Fehnel's father didn't experience wartime as a soldier.
"Still, he didn't speak much about it," said Fehnel, who wiped away tears, as did his son, as he spoke. It was the eighth year the two, along with a group of younger and older scouts, attended the special ceremony and helped dress graves for the holidays.
A first impression comes full circle
Wreaths Across America started in 1992, when a wreath company in Maine had a surplus of Christmas wreaths. Owner Morell Worcester remembered how he felt as a 12-year-old paperboy who had won a trip to Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The first time he laid eyes on all of the white gravestones, he felt compelled to give back one day.
Eventually, with help from a local senator, Worcester had the wreaths placed at Arlington in one of the older cemetery sections that had been receiving fewer visitors each passing year, according to wreathsacrossamerica.org.
As word spread through the local community, volunteers showed up to assist, including a local trucking company who transported the wreaths to Virginia, and local American Legion and VFW posts who tied red ribbons on every wreath.
That spirit continues today, across the nation.
"It's amazing to see all of the support, and to come out and show your respect, it's a beautiful thing."Wayne Burnhauser
Wayne Burnhauser of Allentown attended the ceremony at Cedar Hill to honor his father, who was a U.S. Army soldier in Vietnam, and his grandfather, who served in the Navy between the Cold War and Vietnam.
"It's amazing to see all of the support, and to come out and show your respect," said Burnhauser after placing wreaths at two grave sites. "It's a beautiful thing."
It was the first time Linda Gunkel of Northampton was able to attend the ceremony.
"I'm so happy I could be here finally. I always have to work, but today I had off," said Gunkel, who placed a wreath on her father's grave before placing her second one on the grave of a soldier she did not know.
Leave no military grave undecorated
That was the directive given during the formal ceremony during which Veterans placed wreaths at the stands of all service branches, a Liberty High School herald trumpet sounded taps, and a gun salute rendered the large crowd motionless.
Instructions were short: Do not rush, it is not a race, but take wreaths — everyone in attendance was given two — all the way to the outer edges of the cemetery, to older graves that are no longer visited, so all were honored.
It was a touching two hours that included prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and Lehigh Valley Gold Star Mothers who have lost children, receiving special wreaths from Lehigh Valley Chapter Blue Star Mothers, who support their active soldier children. The Blue Star moms escorted the Gold Star moms to their respective graves to help place the wreaths.
Across town, Bethlehem scouts from Troop 306 joined members of the military and their families to help place wreaths on graves at Fountain Hill Cemetery as well.
David Fehnel was as moved by the attendance as he was the reason for the day.
"It means a lot to have all the veterans and people who served here today," he said.
In 2023, WAA efforts placed 3 million wreaths across U.S. military graves. To sponsor or donate, visit their website.
