Wreath project at Fort Stanton a poignant success

• Enough money was donated to buy new flags for the graves on Memorial Day and to ensure the wreath project is an annual undertaking

Organizers of the local arm of Wreaths Across America reported success with the effort to raise enough money to place wreaths on the graves of veterans at the Fort Stanton Merchant Marine and Military Cemetery during the holidays.

Fifty-five volunteers place wreaths on the graves of the 200 veterans buried cemetery north of Ruidoso next to the Fort Stanton Historic Site and the new State Veterans Cemetery.

The recipients of the wreaths ranged from four Civil War veterans to the first veteran recently buried in the newly dedicated area of the cemetery. The project was spearheaded by Cecile Kinnan and the Spencer Theater ushers and is part of the National Wreaths Across America project.

Volunteers were of all ages and included 4H representative Riley Lamb. Families were invited to place wreaths on the graves of their loved ones first. Wreaths also were placed on the cemetery obelisk to represent all the military branches and the unknown soldier. Three veterans buried at Ft. Stanton, but not in the cemetery, also received wreaths. hey are Paul Dowlin, Captain, 1st Cavalry, New Mexico Volunteers, Civil War; Oscar Wright Bassford, Lieutenant J. G., US Navy, World War I; and Gordon McKinley Wells, Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class, US Navy, World War I.

This year, 1.5 million wreaths were delivered and placed on graves. All of them were delivered for free by trucking companies and their drivers. The truck for Ft. Stanton pulled in late on a Friday afternoon in December and the boxes were set up at the end of each row, awaiting the arrival of the volunteers Saturday morning. David Flores, manager of Fort Stanton, was instrumental in making sure the ceremony ran smoothly. Taps was played by Dennis Metz followed by an invocation delivered by John Skinner.

Each veteran was thanked individually as a wreath was laid on his or her grave.

“It was more meaningful addressing the veteran by name while laying the wreath,” Carol Bleau said. 

Funds for the wreaths needed to be raised within a month, and many people came through. Large donations came from the Ruidoso Valley Greeters, Dr. Stephen Rath, and a challenge grant from Jerry and Betty Leonard to the Ruidoso Valley Noon Lions Club. Of equal value were the multitude of small donations that allowed for the purchase of one or two wreaths each. The generosity of the people in Lincoln County was bountiful.

Kinnan said that, “When organizations and people work as a team, all is possible.”

Enough money was raised to purchase all the wreaths and to purchase new flags to be placed on the graves on Memorial Day. Because of the generosity of the local communities, both the Christmas wreaths and the Memorial Day flags will become an annual project.