Wreaths Across America volunteers to honor fallen military veterans
Terry Cochran knew he wanted to play a role in honoring fallen Butler County veterans. It was just about discovering the right opportunity.
That desire led him to Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization that specializes in honoring fallen veterans each year by hanging wreaths on gravestones at thousands of cemeteries across the country.
After learning how he could get involved, Cochran is now in his third year of leading dozens of volunteers in laying wreaths at the Zelienople Community Cemetery. This year’s ceremony is at noon Saturday, Dec. 14.
“It was something that I read about, and I knew that there was nothing in the area at the time that was doing such a thing,” he said. “I wanted to see if I could get it done basically, and I wanted to do it for the veterans. I’m the commander of the Sons of the American Legion Post 474, and this was kind of my way of giving back.”
Cochran has grown the tradition exponentially from the first year, both in terms of wreaths and volunteer support.
“We just started with eight ceremonial wreaths for the very first year,” he said. “As time went on and I found out more information, we were able to supply nearly 600 wreaths the following year for the Zelienople cemetery.”
The third year will feature 644 total wreaths, 636 for individual gravestones and another eight ceremonial wreaths representing the seven branches of the military and one for prisoners of war and those missing in action.
According to Cochran, more than 60 community-based volunteers and local Boy Scouts will participate in laying the wreaths. State Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, will lay the designated wreath for prisoners of war and those missing in action after delivering a message to people in attendance.
For just this year alone, Cochran’s helped raise more than $10,000 to purchase hundreds of live wreaths by utilizing social media and reaching out to other local service organizations around the county.
“I had not really thought about the amount of money that I’ve had to raise until recently when I’ve sat down and actually put figures together,” he said. “It’s a lot of money that we have been able to raise from the community in order to do this, and that’s very humbling to me.
“It’s an honor for me to be able to do this.”
