Never forgotten
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on December 14, 2014 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Rosewood High School seniors Joseph Morris and Joseph Martinez lay a wreath on the grave of Pfc. Andrew Sass during the Wreaths Across America event held Saturday in Evergreen Cemetery.
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
Diane Van De Car and her grandchildren, Hannah and Kiley-Ray Atkinson, place a wreath on the grave of their hero, Ronald Van De Car.
Diane Van De Car kneels down in silence by a placard in Evergreen Cemetery.
She kisses her finger tips -- and, moments later, places them on the name on the marker.
Behind her, Sgt. First Class Dinah Tootle lays a wreath on Army Pfc. Andrew Sass' grave, aided by members of Rosewood High School's JROTC program.
All around them, dozens of people placed wreaths on graves throughout the cemetery.
But many did not have a personal connection to the deceased whose final resting places are nestled along the property.
They converged on Evergreen for the same reason Saturday -- to honor Wayne County's fallen veterans in connection with Wreaths Across America.
But for Ms. Van De Car and Sgt. First Class Tootle, Saturday's event was personal.
The placard Ms. Van De Car kneeled by belonged to her husband, Ronald.
She was accompanied by her two grandchildren, Hannah, 5, and Kiley-Ray Atkinson, 1, who enjoy visiting their "Poppy" to decorate his grave.
"He denied our family nothing," Ms. Van De Car said. "My daughter wanted a horse and she got a horse. He was very kind and very patient. He knew me better than I knew myself."
Ronald died on June 26, 2010, at 69 years old.
"I like to come out and talk to him," Ms. Van De Car said. "I used to come every day, and people told me I came too much, but they don't know," she said. "They didn't lose their husband. I know he's not there and I know he's not coming back -- I wish he was -- but that was the last place he was."
Sass, who was killed while training for combat in late June, graduated from Rosewood High School, and Sgt. First Class Tootle was his ROTC instructor from 2008 to 2009.
She remembered him Saturday for his ability to lead -- and for his smile.
"When I first heard he had died I was in disbelief," she said. "When I got the confirmation, it broke my heart. I miss him."
By the end of the ceremony on Saturday, 370 graves had been decorated with wreaths.
And for Ms. Van De Car and Sgt. First Class Tootle, the event gave them another chance to remember and honor their fallen heroes.
"We always said when the weather is nice we're going to come out and have a picnic with Poppy," Ms. Van De Car said, picking up Kiley-Ray before saying goodbye to her husband.
Only it wasn't really a goodbye.
It was an "Until next time."