Wreaths Across America Convoy Honors Veterans At Holmdel Stop

HOLMDEL, NJ —A special ceremony to honor military veterans took place for Wreaths Across America at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wednesday, leading up to National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 17.

More than 366 wreaths were placed at the New Jersey Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Foundation during the ceremony, including one for every panel of the memorial, each representing a day of the year. New Jersey veterans are listed by date of casualty during the Vietnam War, according to the foundation.

Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at 1,600-plus locations, including a stop at the memorial.

The convoy tour stopped first at Thorne Middle School in Middletown, for a dedication at the Battle of the Bulge Monument at the school. See a video of the wreath-laying and flag-raising event on the Wreaths Across America Facebook site.

Thorne Middle School is named for Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Horace “Bud” Thorne, who died in the Battle of the Bulge in WW II.

Mike Thornton, interim executive director and curator for the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation in Holmdel, said that Thorne's 97-year old sister also attended the Holmdel wreath-laying.

"It was such a heartfelt ceremony," Thornton said of the event.

He said that Gold Star families, those who have lost a family member to war, attended and they represented service members lost not only in Vietnam but in the contemporary wars after then, such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Thorne Middle School and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial were two of four stops in the state for the convoy. The school hosted the convoy for the third time, having previously done so in 2013 and 2019, the school said. The school also collected funds for a donation for Wreaths Across America.

With the help of over 100 volunteers, Wreaths Across America’s annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world’s largest veterans’ parade, over a mile long, the organization's website says.

"The convoy of trucks, motorcycles, and cars stop at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes, and communities along the way to remind people of the importance of supporting our veterans," it said.

The organization adds that the wreath-laying ceremony is "one way the community is able to show veterans and their families that their service and their sacrifice will never be forgotten."