World War II U. S. Air Force Veteran Luis Castano from Loganville (center), accompanied by his nephew, Jose Martinez (left) and great nephew, Jorge Martinez (right), prepares to lay a wreath to honor U.S. Air Force Veterans. (Photo by Frank Marchese)
On December 18, National Wreaths Across America Day 2021, a fresh balsam wreath from Maine was laid on every veteran’s grave during a rainy ceremony at East Shadowlawn Memorial Gardens in Lawrenceville. The Philadelphia Winn Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), hosted what has become an annual event to support the mission to “Remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.”
Lt. Col. Craig Knowlton, U.S. Army (retired), was the guest speaker during the third Annual Wreaths Across America ceremony in Lawrenceville, and spoke on “Why are we Veterans?” He was assisted by his daughter, Elizabeth Knowlton,right.
Gwinnett organizations that participated included cadets from the North Gwinnett High School Air Force JROTC program; the Button Gwinnett Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR); the Elisha Winn Society, Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.); the award-winning Georgia State SAR Color Guard and Militia (GASSAR); and Girl Scout Troop 3314 from Buford.
The ceremony’s special guest was Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson from the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. The guest speaker was Lt. Col. Craig Knowlton, U.S. Army (retired) from Lilburn, who served the nation for 32 years, including deployments in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, and Qatar. The national anthem was sung by Philadelphia Winn Chapter Regent, Connie Rifkind of Lilburn. Ceremony attendees were led in the pledge of allegiance by Elisha Winn Society C.A.R. member, Haley Hart of Braselton.
The ceremony included honoring all branches of service, including the newest military branch, the U.S. Space Force. Veterans, JROTC Cadets, and C.A.R. First Vice President Eliza Long, laid remembrance wreaths at the cemetery’s Veterans’ Memorial. The first ceremonial wreath was laid by 97-year-old Luis Castano from Loganville, a World War II veteran who moved to the United States from Columbia, South America when he was 18 years old.
The formal ceremony concluded with the musket firing of a three-round volley by the SAR Militia and the playing of TAPS by Noah Tindall, a C.A.R. State and Elisha Winn Chapter Officer, and a member of the SAR Color Guard.
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