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See/Hear Emotion-Packed Wreaths Across America Ceremony at Rosie the Riveter Park; Long Beach Was Part of Nationwide Event Honoring Fallen Servicemembers



(December 14, 2013, 11:55 a.m., updated text 10:29 p.m.) -- As webcast LIVE on LBREPORT.com earlier today (Dec. 14), Long Beach was part of a nationwide event, joining hundreds of sites across the U.S. conducting a Wreaths Across America ceremony, placing wreaths to honor fallen U.S. servicemembers.


LBREPORT.com has on-demand VIDEO below.


The event, organized annually in Long Beach by Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske and the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation, was held at Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center (Clark Ave. at Conant St.) This year's event was especially poignant, with each of seven Wreaths (one for each of the service branches plus POW/MIA and Merchant Marine) carried and placed by a Gold Star Mother who had lost a son in military service (details below.)


The Wreaths Across America website says the events across the country take place at 12 noon Eastern time (9 a.m. Pacific time) "to coincide with the laying of the wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery."

[Wreaths Across American website text]...This tradition dates back to 1992. The placement of the sponsorship wreaths can either take place prior to or following the ceremony, but the laying of the ceremonial wreaths takes place at 12 noon EST to coincide with the ceremony at Arlington. One thing that makes the Wreaths Across America ceremony special is that we have roughly 850 ceremonies taking place nationally and overseas that hold a moment of silence all at the same time. Bringing everyone together during one of the busiest times of year to take that moment of silence to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy is one of the things that make this a very unique and powerful program.

Wreaths Across America's website says that in 2012 there were 815 participating locations all around the country, in all 50 states and at national veterans’ cemeteries on foreign soil.

Pastor Chris Lankford of the Long Beach Alliance Church delivered the Invocation and spoke of Sgt. Thomas R. MacPherson, whom he knew personally, who perished a little over a year ago in Afghanistan. Sgt. McPherson became the 15th Long Beach Hometown Hero with a banner displayed at Rosie the Riveter Park.


Councilwoman Schipske noted that a 16th Hometown Hero banner will now be placed to honor Staff Sgt. Matthew Marsh of Long Beach, who was killed in November 2013 while clearing unexploded ordnance at Camp Pendleton. (LBREPORT.com coverage here.)


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Laura Herzog, Founder/CEO of Honoring Our Fallen, delivered an emotion-packed remembrance and personal appreciation.


To the sounds of Some Gave All by Bill Ray Cyrus, seven Wreaths provided by Wreaths Across America were placed at the park's military memorial by Gold Star Mothers:

  • Sandra Aceves -- Son: United States Navy Corpsman - Fernando Mendez-Aceces
  • Martha Garcia -- Son: U.S. Marine Corps -- SSGT Juan D. Garcia
  • Deanna Howard -- Son: U.S. Army -- Specialist Christian San Nicolas
  • Didi MacPherson -- Son: U.S. Army Ranger -- Sgt. Thomas R. MacPherson
  • Rina Martinez -- Son: U.S. Marine Corps Reserves -- Lance Corp. Joshua Martinez
  • Nadia McCaffrey -- Son: U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Patrick McCaffrey
  • Marlene Shaw -- Son: U.S. Marine Corps -- Corporal Christopher Singer

The names of all 16 Long Beach Hometown Heroes were read aloud by Sgt. Jonetta Green and SPC George Flannagan (LB Army National Guard.)

Taps was sounded by Lee Seltzer (Rock for Vets)


The High Tide Quartet performed God Bless America and I'll Be Home For Christmas.

In addition to LBREPORT.com, KTLA/5 from Los Angeles was present as were a reporter and a photographer from the Register.

Long Beach was one of 450 sites nationwide participating in the event, but apart from annual event organizer Councilwoman Schipske, no other Long Beach elected official chose to attend (although some have attended in previous years.)



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