“Remember our fallen veterans. Honor those who serve. Teach your children the honor of freedom.” That’s the mission statement of Wreaths Across America and for Woolwich native Roger Brawn, a retired U.S. Army veteran, they’re words to live by. Brawn and others gathered Saturday morning, Dec. 18 at Laurel Hill Cemetery off Route 127 in Woolwich to lay evergreen wreaths on the graves of 91 veterans. The air was cold, the sky overcast. It was a bittersweet moment for those who’d come to remember a lost loved one; tears were shed.

Mindy Turner and her mother Pam Wright were there to honor William H. Wright, Pam’s husband and a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. They also remembered their grandfather, Herbert F. Wright, who served in World War II also in the U.S. Army. “We wanted to take part,” said Turner watching as her mother solemnly laid the wreath and said her late husband’s name aloud.

Woolwich Selectman Dale Chadbourne and his wife Sherry were there, too. “We purchased two wreaths, one to honor my father, Richard Chadbourne. He was an Army veteran serving during World War II. Dad didn’t talk a lot about his time spent in the military service but he received five bronze star medals and he took part in the Battle of the Bulge under General Patton,” Chadbourne said. The other wreath they’d bought from Wreaths Across America was for Chadbourne’s grandfather, Elwood Hawthorne of Woolwich, also an Army veteran.

“What we’re doing today was really a good thing. I hope, like Roger (Brawn) says, that it will become a yearly tradition,” added Chadbourne.

Maria Renaud of Harpswell was there with her grandson, Lawson Jeffery Weeks, 3. “We donated and came to take part. It’s an important lesson for young people to learn and become involved in,” she said.

Brawn told Wiscasset Newspaper he was at the cemetery the day before, blowing leaves from the graves. “It’s a little chilly this morning but pretty nice weather all the same considering we’re supposed to get our first snowstorm of the season later today. I think after it snows I’d like to come back and take some pictures showing all of the green holiday wreaths and red bows.”

Veterans buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery served in wars as far back as the War of 1812. Brawn said he had obtained 91 wreaths. “If I’ve figured this right, we’ll have just three left over.” The wreaths were delivered Thursday by Bisson Moving & Storage of Westbrook. Eric Johns of Woolwich was one of the men delivering the wreaths provided by Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington.

Laurel Grove Cemetery Association, of which Brawn is president, hopes to make the laying of wreaths in Woolwich an annual tradition. Other association members are Lori Vining, treasurer/secretary, Allen Brawn and Charlotte Kaplan.