On Saturday December 11, 2010, Jean-Marie was the honorary POW/MIA wreath presenter at the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park in Sonoma, CA .
Wreaths Across America is a nationwide holiday remembrance of veterans. It is sponsored by Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, which began donating 5,000 wreaths for placement at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992 (since grown to 11,000).
The ceremony takes place at more than 530 veterans’ cemeteries in all 50 states, at 24 American military cemeteries on foreign soil, and aboard a U.S. Navy ship sailing on each of the seven seas.
Each veterans cemetery receives seven commemorative wreaths – one for each branch of the U.S. military, plus the Merchant Marine and POW/MIA. Jean-Marie was asked again this year to be the honorary wreath bearer for the POW/MIA wreath.
Jean-Marie laying a wreath for the POW/MIA veterans.
A bugler plays taps.
Jean-Marie with the Patriot Guard Riders.
The Sonoma Wreaths Across America ceremony is coordinated by Civil Air Patrol Squadron 157 of Sonoma County Airport, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1943 and American Legion Post 489 of Sonoma. At precisely 9 a.m. there was a minute of silence observed at the Sonoma cemetery and all other participating locations nationwide. Earlier in the week, commemorative wreaths in honor of all veterans were laid at all 50 state capitols.