For the past four years the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 26 in Plant City has spent countless hours prepping hundreds of Christmas wreaths and slowly combing through cemeteries to place them on the graves of local veterans.
Pam McGregor, president of the Legion, said the group is deeply passionate about giving back and supporting veterans. Honoring the sacrifice they gave is the foundation of every project the Legion undertakes.
“Loyalty, dedication and remembrance and honor. I don’t really know just one word to describe why we do this,” McGregor said. “I mean look at what they gave to us. Sure we spend a lot of hours getting these ready and then we spend all day walking around and placing them on graves. But that’s nothing in comparison to what they’ve done. This is the least we can do.”
The Legion chose to start this project to honor the veterans that were placed in normal cemeteries surrounded by their loved ones. The Legion also donates to Wreaths Across America to place wreaths at national cemeteries.
This year the Legion was able to place approximately 870 wreaths in Plant City. But McGregor said they are far from finished.
“We want to be able to place wreaths on every single veteran’s grave in Plant City,” McGregor said. “We’re going to keep giving and keep growing. This year we were short on funds. People weren't able to give as much, which I think is happening across the board. But we’re determined to do everything we can to keep this growing. The goal next year is to be able to do the other side as well.”
This year the core group of volunteers were joined by several newcomers. The message is spreading and McGregor said it is an honor to hear every unique story and get to know the heroes that live right here in Plant City.
The youngest volunteer was a young boy named Dakota who has been coming out for two years to help with the event with his grandmother. Several of the other volunteers were using canes to walk through the rows, determined to not let a single grave slip through the cracks.
As the volunteers filled their arms with wreaths they split up and slowly walked up and down their assigned section. When they spotted a grave of a veteran they gently placed a wreath adorned with a Christmas bow and a holiday tag that read, “With gratitude from American Legion Auxiliary Unit 26 Plant City, Fl.”
Sometimes a volunteer would pause, quietly reading the engraved name and bending down to remove some overgrowing grass or fallen moss from the tombstone.
It’s a tradition McGregor said the Legion plans to continue “until we can’t walk any longer.” Anyone interested in donating to help purchase more wreaths or to learn more about the program can call McGregor at 813-716-5684.
“Our veterans, they can’t be forgotten,” McGregor said. “As long as there is breath in our bodies we won’t let that happen.”