Wreaths Across America Semi Rolls into Town with Police Escort; Delivers 1,200-Plus Wreaths to Bridgeport Cemetery for Saturday Ceremony
By Julie Perine on December 12, 2017
A tractor trailer rolled into town this morning, delivering 1,000-plus pine wreaths to Bridgeport Cemetery. The wreaths – 1,262, to be exact – will be placed on the graves of veterans at Bridgeport Cemetery this Saturday.
Wreaths Across America Team Bridgeport Organizer Christa Parker and her team of assistants were ready and waiting for the truck’s arrival.
“We got up here about 9:45 a.m. and the truck came a little after 10 because the driver ran into bad weather on I-68 and had to slow down,” Parker said.
“(Assistant Police Chief) Randy Hartley escorted him from behind and we had a VIPs unit in the front – both with their lights on and escorting the truck from Exit 125.”
The wreaths - each topped with a red bow - were packed in 141 boxes. An ample crew of volunteers was on hand to assist with unloading.
“We had four soldiers, our awesome cemetery grounds keepers, guys from Bridgeport Public Works and Don and Joe of Bridgeport Parks and Recreation, (Assistant City Manager) Jimmy Smith and (Bridgeport Cemetery Office Administrator) Tricia Bombardiere and a couple of other volunteers,” Parker said. “We had plenty of help and it didn’t take us long to unload the truck.”
The wreaths will be stored in the cemetery garage until Saturday’s ceremony which begins at 12 noon sharp, beginning with a blessing of the wreaths by Rev. Robin Ray and singing of The National Anthem by Emma Guthall of South Harrison High School. Serving as emcee will be Brad Ford and playing Taps will be Bridgeport High School Drum Major Joplin Kehrer. The Harrison County Honor Guard is also scheduled to participate, as is a local troop of Boy Scouts. The highlight, of course, is the laying of wreaths on the military gravesites.