Hundreds of Volunteers Flock to Place Wreaths at Alexandria National Cemetery
Wreaths Across America Brings Truckloads of Red-Bowed Pine Wreaths
ALEXANDRIA, VA – “Wait Mom, this one has fallen down,” said 7-year old Teddy Turskey, as he pulled away from his family, kneeling down to adjust a fresh, green Christmas wreath placed in front of a Civil War soldier’s tombstone in the Alexandria National Cemetery, located at 1650 Wilkes Street in the south end of Old Town Alexandria.
The Turskeys, who live in the Mount Vernon part of Alexandria, joined hundreds of other volunteers who crowded together outside the tall black iron gates of the city’s national cemetery to place wreaths on 2,573 gravestones. Alexandria National Cemetery is one of the original 14 cemeteries established in 1862. The first burials made in the cemetery were soldiers who died during training or from disease in the numerous hospitals around Alexandria. By 1864, the cemetery was nearly filled to capacity, which eventually led to the planning, development and construction of Arlington National Cemetery.
After brief remarks by Jerry Krueger, Commander, VFW Post 609, people of all ages politely entered the cemetery, where other volunteers were stationed near large boxes labeled Wreaths Across America. “They brought in three truckloads of wreaths for us yesterday,” Krueger old Zebra. “They were all sponsored by local citizens, who paid $17 for each one. Every year we just barely make it [get them all sponsored]. I think we were three short, but we made it up of course.”
Families and girl and boy scout troops filled the rows, carrying wreaths, fluffing bows and kneeling in front of grave stones.
“My daughter spotted the grave marker of one of the men they are studying in her class,” said Camisha Parker, who brought the senior and ambassador girl scouts from the Alfred Street Baptist Church, which has sponsored girl scout troops from K-12 for over 40 years. “It is special for the girls to find the soldiers’ graves marked U.S.C.T. (United States Colored Troops) because there is relevance in those even today.”
In fact, burials of the men in the U.S.C.T. sparked one of the first Civil Rights efforts by African Americans in the country.
Upon hearing that African American soldiers were going to be buried at the new Freedmen’s Cemetery in Alexandria and not the Soldier’s Cemetery (now Alexandria National Cemetery), 443 soldiers at L’Ouverture hospital (built in 1863 in the block bounded by Prince, Duke, S. Payne and S. West Streets for the care of African American troops and contraband civilians) signed a petition to be buried at Alexandria National and gained the support of a white Captain named JCG Lee. The men demanded that they be buried with the same honors as their white counterparts, as they served an equally important role in the war.
Because of the success of the L’Ouverture Petition, 118 individuals were removed from Freedman’s Cemetery and reinterred at Alexandria National in section B between the dates of January 6th and 17th, 1865. Of the 443 signers of the petition, 23 are buried at Alexandria National, having fought for their right to be buried with the honor they so rightfully deserved. Because of their efforts, over 250 USCT are interred at Alexandria National Cemetery.
The scene was overwhelmingly patriotic, solemn, joyous, and filled with gratitude. A lone bagpiper, Peter Wycoff Walker, a self-described space physicist by day, and Celtic musician by night, weathered the freezing temperature in his kilt and bare knees, piping “Amazing Grace.”
Protocol for the wreath laying asks that the wreath be propped against an upright headstone with the top of the wreath (bow) centered on the headstone, and that the volunteer please take a moment to say the soldier’s name out loud as each wreath is placed to keep their memory alive. Active and retired military volunteers were spotted saluting the graves they adorned.
In accordance with and out of respect for Jewish custom, Wreaths Across America asks that volunteers not place wreaths on the headstones of servicemembers with a Star of David, but instead take a moment to stop and say their name, but not to place a wreath.
“Please come back Saturday, January 25 at 8 a.m. to help us remove the wreaths,” said Jerry Krueger to everyone leaving the cemetery. “Bring a broomstick! Why? he asked. “Because about five wreaths fit on a broomstick.”
For the first time ever, volunteers are needed to help remove the wreaths so they can be recycled. “The cemetery used to take care of the removal and disposal, but has changed maintenance contractors,” Krueger told Zebra. “So we have to do it ourselves.”
