The wreath-laying ceremony hosted by the Shady Grove cemetery caretakers was the perfect counter to a grey day last Saturday. On a day in which over 2,000 locations across the country held such an event, none could have been as dignified as that conducted at this rural cemetery in Wood County. 

The event was a part of the National Wreaths Across America Day – a day when wreaths are placed on veterans’ headstones as a remembrance of service and sacrifice. 

Shady Grove cemetery provides rest for 97 veterans among the 843 deceased under their care. 

According to Larry Finney, chairman of the cemetery, this is the first year that Shady Grove has participated in the national wreath-laying. He acknowledged that it was his wife, Sherry, who led the event planning and execution. Sherry Finney serves as the secretary-treasurer at Shady Grove.

The occasion hosted at Shady Grove was not simply a wreath-laying, it was a dignified ceremony. Following an opening prayer given by VFW Chaplain John Mumby, the colors were paraded, “Taps” was played and a moment of silence observed. 

Winnsboro high school musician Deeva McMinn performed a rendition of “God Bless America” in the beautifully-full tones of the French horn. McMinn explained that she has a number of extended family members who have served and quickly volunteered to perform once the opportunity became known. 

Local musicians Ron and Cathy Lawson offered emotional performances of “Amazing Grace” and an “American Trilogy,” adding to the musical tributes.

Chaplain Mumby, a combat veteran, featured as the speaker and offered his thoughts on “Honoring the dead by serving the living.” He remarked how good it was to see so many young people at the ceremony. He explained that the event is truly something which must be passed forward to each generation. 

At a brief moment during the official events the sun burned through the overcast and briefly illuminated those gathered in and around the pavilion.     

Nearly 100 local residents attended. Some, like Virginia Turner and Felisa Cooper, are long-time residents of the area who came to honor family members. Others, like Navy veteran James Pickering and his 11-year old daughter Lillian, were new to the area and simply came to offer their thanks. 

The spruce and Douglas fir wreaths were taken first by family members and placed at their loved ones’ headstones. Thereafter others were free to take wreaths and place them for past servicemen who had not been attended to by family. 

The whole event was conducted in the most professional manner, respectfully and with purpose. The tone of the wreath-laying was dutiful and not dour – the best possible tribute.

As speaker Mumby remarked in closing, “When our missions are over we will find welcome in the fields of the blessed.”

The Wreaths Across America program is a recent phenomenon. It was founded in 2007 to continue the gesture of businessman Morrill Worcester who in 1992 donated 5,000 wreaths from his wreath company to Arlington Memorial Cemetery. The initiative has grown exponentially and has incorporated many educational events to teach younger generations about the value of their freedoms and the value of honoring those who sacrificed to protect those freedoms.  

The Shady Grove Cemetery is adjacent to the old Shady Grove Methodist Church, and was established in 1855.