Holiday wreaths to be laid at Lorain County cemeteries Dec. 17

Wreaths will be laid across hundreds of Lorain County veterans' graves on Dec. 17 to remember the mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who are no longer here to celebrate the holidays. Wreaths Across America Day will be observed at some 3,400 cemeteries nationwide. "We have Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but around the holidays I think a lot of people are keenly feeling the loss of loved ones. I think this is really helpful for families," said Kathryn Kennedy of Lorain, who has been planning the event since January. In years past, winter observances have been held at cemeteries in Avon and Elyria, as well as Brownhelm and Columbia townships. Now Kennedy plans to honor veterans buried in the northwestern portion of the county. The Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard and members of AMVETS Post 32 in Elyria will hold concurrent ceremonies at: Cleveland Street in Amherst and Elmwood in Lorain at 10 a.m. St. Joseph Cemetery in Amherst Township and Calvary Cemetery in Lorain at 10:30 a.m. Kendeigh Corner Cemetery and Ridge Hill Memorial Park, both in Amherst Township, at 11 a.m. Evergreen Cemetery in South Amherst and Middle Ridge Cemetery in Amherst Township at 11:30 a.m. Crownhill Cemetery in Amherst and Pioneer Cemetery in South Amherst at noon. After speaking to American Legion commanders, Kennedy said veterans in Brighton Township, Sheffield and Wellington and Lions Club members in LaGrange also will honor the dead that day. Kennedy said she became involved in Wreaths Across America to honor her father, the late Gene Kennedy. Before becoming a popular Lorain teacher and coach, he fought in the South Pacific during World War II as a member of the Army Air Corps 841st Engineer Battalion, firing anti-aircraft guns at Japanese planes. Kennedy said the family on her mother's side has an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War, and another who was aboard the Niagara alongside naval commander Oliver Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Many local families have similar family connections, she said, estimating that 20,000 veterans are buried at Lorain County cemeteries. There are just shy of 10,000 interred at the 10 northwestern sites the honor guards will visit Dec. 17, she said. There are roughly 3,800 buried at Calvary Cemetery alone. John Sekletar of Amherst, who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, said there aren't nearly enough wreaths to place one at every veteran's grave — though he'd like to do so. While Kennedy has about 700 on hand; that falls short of the mark. Sekletar said memorial wreaths will be placed at each of the 10 Amherst and Lorain-area cemeteries to represent the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force and prisoners of war and those who are still considered missing in action. Honor guards will say a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance at each location, sound taps and offer a rifle salute. "I think it's a matter of education, educating the people who aren't aware of the sacrifices that were made by others so we have the freedoms we have today," Sekletar said. Honoring those in uniform has become a mission for Sekletar, who said his resolve was set after an altercation in 1972. Returning from Vietnam, he flew into San Francisco: "We were all high as hell because we were so happy to be back safe and sound. We were met by people who were protesting," he remembers. The right to protest was one of the freedoms he'd fought to protect. What Sekletar didn't expect was for the waiting crowd to be hostile, and for one person to spit in his face. Kennedy said that it's important today to remember not only the sacrifices veterans made abroad, but also at home. Wreaths Across America is a chance to show respect to the dead, and to think about how they changed history, she said. It's also an opportunity to teach younger people, Kennedy said. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Trail Life groups and the Amherst Leo Club will join members of area Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Eagles posts at the ceremonies. Kennedy is also searching for veterans and active-duty personnel to represent military branches at each cemetery. To volunteer or donate to the cause, call (513) 659-4951 or email loraincountywreaths@gmail.com. Jason Hawk can be reached at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.