CEDAR CITY — Hundreds of people gathered in Cedar City Cemetery Saturday afternoon to pay tribute to military veterans past and present.
More than 800 wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves during what was Cedar City’s inaugural participation in “Wreaths Across America” Day.
“Right now across the country, at more than 2,400 memorial sites like this one, we are gathering as one nation to remember, honor and teach the values of sacrifice and service,” said Cedar City Councilman Scott Phillips, who served as the hourlong program’s master of ceremonies.
Cedar City Mayor Maile Wilson-Edwards also gave a short speech, saying, “This nation has always been the first to stand up for the freedom of people around the world. Many of you here today have answered that call and served your country well. We are here today to say thank you and offer our deepest gratitude.”
The program also featured a poetic tribute “Santa and the Solider,” read by Brian Vaughn, vocal renditions of “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful” by Brandon Burk and the playing of “Taps” by trumpet player Brandon Brinkerhoff. Also, at the beginning of the ceremony, SUU Aviation did a “missing man” flyover, after which the flag was posted by a color guard of Eagle Scouts, and SUU students Megan Goodrich and Ashley Stackhouse sang the national anthem.
Ceremonial wreaths were placed in front of the cemetery’s Veterans Memorial marker, in honor of each of the branches of the armed forces. Those were followed by one more wreath that Phillips noted was “in honor of the 93,129 United States service members from all branches of the service whose last known status was either prisoner of war or missing in action.”
“These individuals have never returned to their families and homes,” he added. “We shall never forget you.”
During his earlier remarks, Phillips also made special mention of local veteran and Native American artist Daniel Growler, whose mural painting called “The Cedar People” was recently unveiled downtown.
“Sadly, Daniel lost his battle with cancer one week ago,” Phillips said. “Along with hundreds of other dedicated American veterans today, I honor Daniel and his family for his service and contributions to his country and this community.”
At the conclusion of the program, family members and friends went throughout the cemetery and placed wreaths on the graves of those loved ones who’d served in the military. They were assisted by dozens of volunteers who helped with handing out the balsam wreaths and placing them.
“Remember, we are not here today to decorate graves,” Phillips said. “We are here to remember not their deaths, but their lives. Each wreath is a gift of appreciation from a grateful America.”
“Each veteran’s grave is marked with a small American flag,” Phillips added. “As you lay the wreath, please take a moment to say the veteran’s name out loud to remember his or her service to a grateful nation.”
Phillips, who served on the city’s Wreaths Across America committee, thanked his fellow committee members, the volunteers and the many generous donors and sponsors who helped make the project possible. Donations for “Wreaths Across America” are accepted year-round by the Bald Eagle Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Check out the proceedings at the cemetery by watching the video in the player above and viewing the photos in gallery below.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Eagle Scout color guard at Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
City Councilman R. Scott Phillips speaks during Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Eagle Scout color guard, Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Megan Goodrich and Ashley Stackhouse sing the national anthem at Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Megan Goodrich and Ashley Stackhouse sing the national anthem at Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
City Councilman R. Scott Phillips speaks during Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Mayor Maile Wilson-Edwards speaks during Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Brian Vaughn speaks during Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Brandon Burk sings "God Bless America" during Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Brandon Brinkerhoff plays "Taps" during Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Local pageant royalty helped out as volunteers for Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
A flatbed once filled with wreaths sits empty as volunteers place them on graves during Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar City's "Wreaths Across America" event, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 19, 2020 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons and one granddaughter. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.