Scores brave the wind for Wreaths Across America

More than 150 residents came out on a brisk and windy Saturday afternoon for the eighth annual Norwood Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Highland Cemetery in Norwood.

Norwood Veterans Agent Derek Wennerstrand opened the day’s ceremonies and shared that the theme of this year’s ceremony was “Moving Forward.”

Wreaths Across America focuses on laying wreaths on veterans graves, and so after the ceremony itself, residents rolled up their sleeves (metaphorically speaking, it was too cold to really roll up your sleeves) and laid each wreath at a veteran’s grave. Many were in the central area of the cemetery, but several residents went far afield to lay down wreaths at more remote locations at Highland.

Wennerstrand talked about his own struggles with “Moving Forward” when he faced a life-changing event in his family. He started this story with a discussion on how it can feel to get out of the military, seemingly without a rudder or purpose to guide oneself.

“Many times, not knowing what the ‘mission’ is can lead us into a dark place,” he said. “In the military, our mission is handed down to us and our orders are clear. In the civilian area of operation, often we must seek out our own orders. They’re not always concise or clear; we must adjust our expectations and rise to the occasion by exercising initiative and taking appropriate action in the absence of orders… My father used to say to me, ‘Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual, Derek. We try our best to raise good sons and daughters, but as parents, we can’t always be there for you.’ This resonates with me today in many aspects of my life.”

Wennerstrand shared his own struggle that took place seven years ago, when he was still a Norwood Police Officer and not the Veterans Service Agent.

“It’s a brief personal story,” he said. “I lost my father seven years ago when he took his own life while I was on duty as a Norwood Police Officer. I left the police department soon after, and I fell into a deep depression. I didn’t know where to go or what to do with my life. My dad wasn’t going to be there to give me any more advice.”

Wennerstrand became audibly choked up recalling this memory.

“My career was now over, how was I going to continue after this profound loss?” he said. “Although I’m not an overly religious person, and I know I don’t go to church nearly enough, I found solace in spiritual teachings. Spirituality for me doesn’t mean I have to speak with a priest or a preacher – and don’t mistake these comments as some religious sales pitch because as much as faith can be a cornerstone, as individuals we must harness our own abilities to understand life’s struggles. When we stumble and face loss, it’s okay to feel bad for a time, but we must put aside our emotions and indecisions and move forward with a purpose. Keep moving forward with your missions, learn from the failures and the trauma, never accept defeat, never quit, and never leave yourself behind.”

Ecolab representative and organizer Andrea Reed also spoke during the event, and said the theme was chosen by National Wreaths Across America Executive Director Karen Worcester because it was a battle cry during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“It was to honor the last words of Captain Joshua Byers, U.S. Army, KIA in Iraq on July 23, 2003,” she said. “Joshua Byers was the company commander of Fox Troop in Iraq in 2003 when an IED (improvised explosive device) struck his Humvee. As the smoke filled the air, Josh gave his driver his last command: ‘keep moving forward.’ Though Josh didn’t make it home, the command saved the lives of all of his team and became the battle cry for the unit and his family. There will always be challenges to overcome, as individuals, communities and as a country, but we must keep moving forward together.”

Dedham High School student Jake Miles discussed his grandmother’s memory, and he said he was thankful that Wreaths Across America gave him and his family the opportunity to honor her service for the U.S. Marine Corps.

“Everyone who knew my grandmother, Mary Rottick Steele, would say the same thing: that she had great pride for her time in the military,” he said. “It was one of the great times of her life. She joined the military just after finishing her junior year in college. Her entire life had been spent in a small town in Minnesota, and she had never seen the world beyond that small area. So when she saw a military recruitment poster with the words, ‘See the World!’ she was sold.”

Miles said his grandmother worked as an avionics technician for the Marines and graduated second in her class for the three-month education training for the position.

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“Even with the additional challenges she faced as a woman in the military, she still believed it was one of her best life accomplishments,” he said. “So much so, she thought all Americans should serve in the military in some capacity.”

Norwood resident Zach Scott spoke about his grandfather’s service during the Vietnam War.

“He is a man who carries a weight of experience that most of us can’t even imagine,” he said. “Growing up, I didn’t always understand the sacrifices he made, or the quiet strength he showed every day, but as I got older, I came to realize that resilience isn’t always loud. Sometimes it simply looks like getting up each morning and choosing to move forward despite the past, and he embodies that. His service, courage, and large role he plays in my life – as I don’t have a father – continues to inspire me as I pave my own path.”

Scott said he is currently a freshman at Providence College seeking a biology major.

“Like many students, I’m learning what it means to push through uncertainty, stay grounded in my purpose and continue moving forward,” he said. “College brings its own tests, but when I think of the strength shown by grandfather and veterans across the country, I am reminded that perseverance is a trait shared by us all.”

For more information on Wreaths Across America, go to https://tinyurl.com/s29cx5ma