By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Shrewsbury – On a cold and windy Saturday morning, members of the Victor Quaranta American Legion Post 397 placed seven wreaths representing the branches of the military on graves located in the Veterans’ Lot in the Mountain View Cemetery Dec. 13.
The wreaths were donated by the national nonprofit organization, Wreaths Across America (WAA), which coordinates wreath laying ceremonies on veterans graves on a specified Saturday in December. The biggest wreath laying takes place at Arlington National Ceremony.
American Legion member Ron Pelletier coordinated the ceremony in Shrewsbury. He explained that after the post made a donation earlier this year to WAA, the organization in turn donated the seven wreaths to be laid in Shrewsbury.
“This is our first time doing this,” Pelletier said. “We hope it becomes an annual event. It’s a way to show respect to our fallen members and let them know they are not forgotten.”
At the Shrewsbury ceremony, the members were assisted by Boy Scouts from the Ray Stone Post, which represents Shrewsbury and Westborough. Town officials, including members of the Board of Selectmen, also attended the brief ceremony.