Wreaths Across America honors the fallen at Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Fort Riley-Manhattan
Article - 5 minute read
Hundreds of people gathered to remember and honor the lives of those who have fought and died for our country by laying wreaths on their graves on Saturday, December 17 at Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Fort Riley – Manhattan. This was one of over 3,500 cemeteries where wreath-laying occurred for National Wreaths Across America Day. Managed by Bryan Nelson, the cemetery sits between the city of Manhattan and Ogden, just off of Wildcat creek road.
“We come down here to help place the wreaths as a patriotic service to our country,” Abilene Chapter Daughters of American Revolution member Leesa Hettenbach said. “It’s just fabulous that we are able to be a free country and be able to do this and serve our country to help others in remembrance.”
Audio was provided by DJ Hicks Productions, bagpipes were played by John Scott of the Kansas Territorial Pipes and Drums, Junction City High School JROTC served as color guard, Kaysha Elmenhorst of Moran, Kansas sang the National Anthem, and Sue Carpenter gave the invocation.
The Kansas Veterans Cemetery was short by about 200 wreaths, but due to numerous sponsors they were able to receive enough wreaths within a week for the year and extra for next year.
“The mission of Wreaths Across America is to remember the fallen,” Keynote Speaker VFW Commander, Gulf War Veteran Dan Watkins said in his speech. “To honor them and to teach children the value of freedom…. Right now, across the country, at more than 3,500 memorial sites like this one, we are gathered as one nation to remember, honor, and teach. We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people from many walks of life. The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who have given their lives so that we may live in freedom and without fear.”
Watkins also told parents to make sure that their children understood that freedom is not free and ended his speech with a quote from President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Gettysburg Address.
After Watkins gave his speech District 66 Kansas House Representative Sydney Carlin (D) took the stand to say a few words, speaking on the history of the cemetery.
“A few years ago, this was a meadow or a field—I don’t know what was growing here, but I do remember how beautiful the land was,” Representative Carlin said. “This site did not just happen. It took years of effort, cooperation, and vigilance, and political energy. Area local citizens and leaders, state legislators, and Senator Lana Oleen spent at least three years on this project. I was a city commissioner and she brought me into the whole thing so I could see how it was unfolding. Before she left office, we weren’t quite finished. I got to carry some funding before it on the floor of the Kansas House and Senator Roger Reitz also carried it through the Senate…. The legislation was signed by Governor Bill Graves and then Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed the last funding that we carried and then an act of Congress spearheaded by Senator Roberts and the signature of President Bill Clinton, made this honor site happen where we stand today.”
Representative Carlin also said she “breathes silent prayers” when she puts wreaths on the headstones and is proud to play a small part in the wreath-laying.
The last speaker of the morning was Riley County District 1 Commissioner John Ford (R).
“During the holiday season, the absence of fallen soldiers is felt even more deeply by family and friends,” Commissioner Ford said. “This week, in wreath-laying events across the nation, we pledge to remember our fallen soldiers, and to honor their service…. We all should do this, never forget any of the sacrifices of those that are serving, those that have served, and those that have fallen. To lay down their lives so that others may live as we strive to serve our communities, our states, our nation, our school districts, and our local municipalities. We do so in their honor. We do so with devotion to one another, and to the values that we all share.”
The ceremony ended with the students from the Junction City High School JROTC laying veterans wreaths as Scott played bagpipes.
“We had about fifty cadets out here today, and this is something that we do every year,” Senior Instructor for the Junction City High School JROTC Richard Hodgson said. “It’s one of our bigger community service events that we do.”
Kaylee Page laid a veterans wreath in the memory of those that served and are serving in the United States Army. Keith Stevens laid a veterans wreath in the memory of those that served and are serving in the United States Marine Corps. Brianna Danavan laid a veterans wreath in the memory of those that served and are serving in the United States Navy. Mariah Beltram laid a veterans wreath in the memory of those that served and are serving in the United States Air Force. Savannah Butrov laid a veterans wreath in honor of those that are serving in the United States Space Force. Jeannette Lewis laid a veterans wreath in the memory of those that served and are serving in the United States Coast Guard. Dakota Richardson laid a veterans wreath in the memory of those that served and are serving in the United States Merchant Marines. Tia Boulevard laid a veterans wreath in honor of the 93,129 United States service men and women in all branches of the service whose last known status was either prisoner of war or missing in action.
After the ceremony, family and friends were able to visit the graves of their loved ones before the wreath-laying began.