Honoring the sacrifice in the season
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on December 17, 2016 6:24 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Cassandra Kingsley walks with her two daughters Khailyn Tew, 5, and Adalyn Tew, 4, to lay wreaths on the graves of veterans during the annual Wreaths Across America event at Evergreen Cemetery Saturday. They were laying wreaths to honor their family member, Charles Ladd, who died of an overdose as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder earlier this year. Ladd is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
The cold and the fog could not chill the spirits of the hundreds who gathered at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery at noon today.
They came to place wreaths on the graves of nearly 500 veterans ---- a somber effort meant to celebrate the lives and honor the sacrifices of those who dedicated themselves to something greater.
Wreaths Across America marked its fourth year in Wayne County today.
The nation-wide program is designed to honor veterans in all branches of service.
Volunteers either reserved specific graves or simply took wreaths to place on the graves of people they might not have ever known.
Bill Graham, president of the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition, asked those in the latter group not to stop at placing a wreath.
"I ask you to write down the names of the people buried there, and look them up and learn as much as you can about them," he said.
Graham said that the Goldsboro group was one of 1,200 Wreaths Across America gatherings nationwide. He then invited Melissa Watkins, a Seymour Johnson Air Force Base airman and gold-star wife, up to the podium to speak.
Mrs. Watkins' husband, Bill, was killed in 2003 when his F-15E crashed during bombing operations in Iraq. At the time, she was pregnant with the couple's second child -- their son William was only 11 months old -- and she said that the Air Force family helped her get through that difficult time.
The event was especially meaningful for Mrs. Watkins because of its timing.
"Someone is placing a wreath on my husband's grave at Arlington right now," she said. "Today would have been his 53rd birthday. And this is how I have chosen to spend it."
After representatives from each branch of the military placed wreaths to honor their service members, those in the audience were free to place their own wreaths.
Frankie Talton placed a wreath on the grave of her husband, George Thomas Talton, who passed away in 2010 due to illnesses which she said were tied to Agent Orange exposure during Vietnam. This was the first time Mrs. Talton had made it to Wreaths Across America, and she came alone.
Next year, though, she intends to be back with her whole family.
"I think it's just wonderful," she said. "What better to way to honor those who have gone, and too early?"
Mrs. Talton also placed a wreath on the grave of her father, next to that of her husband. Both men served in the Army.
Others were there to honor those who passed away more recently. Pamela Ladd came with her family to remember her son, Charles Ladd, who died from an overdose in February after struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Ladd served in the Army for eight years, and spent six tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mrs. Ladd said that seeing so many people gathered in honor of fallen veterans was a moving experience.
"It means the world to me," she said, holding back tears. "If you have lost someone to PTSD, I feel like you're part of a family."
Once the wreaths were laid, the group gathered back together for closing remarks. Mrs. Watkins took the podium again, this time introducing William and her daughter, Mary Allison. The kids presided over the presentation of a POW/MIA table, a ceremony done in honor of service members who never returned home.
After closing remarks by Seymour Johnson officials and community members, the group disbanded in preparation for a second ceremony later in the day.