SPRINGVALE – Mary Waterhouse, her daughter Mariette and two granddaughters, Leah and Olivia Roberge came to Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery lay a wreath on their loved one’s headstone on Saturday, as did scores of others.

Mary’s  husband James, who served in the U.S. Army, passed away in 2014.

“This year, we decided we wanted to honor him and all the veterans, and be part of this ceremony,” said Waterhouse, of Acton. She said when she and her husband had to make decisions toward the end of his life, they were glad that the veterans cemetery in Springvale –so close to home – had been built. The closest other is in the middle of the state – a long way from home.

Her family and many others with loved ones buried in the cemetery or those who just wanted to help were on hand for the brief, heartfelt ceremony, and then quietly placed wreaths on the white marble headstones.

Saturday was Wreaths Across America Day. Hosted by Rolling Thunder, the ceremony drew participants from veterans organizations, scouting troops, ROTC, and many others.

Ringing the committal shelter where the ceremony was held were members of service organization, families, Cub and Boy scouts, members of the Massabesic Naval Junior ROTC program and others, solemnly holding America flags.

Rolling Thunder President Paul LeBlanc told those gathered that more than 1,100 similar ceremonies were taking place in veterans cemeteries all over the country and at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Wreaths Across America’s motto is “remember, honor, teach.”

“We are here today not to remember their deaths, but to remember their lives,” said LeBlanc.

Those representing each branch of the military service – U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine, placed a ceremonial wreath.

Accompanying Sanford World War II veteran and former prisoner of War Leon Tanguay as they placed a wreath was Vicki Uzzle of Eliot, whose father, Woodrow Wilson “Corky” White fought in World War II. She is searching for his remains. What is known now – but wasn’t known in 1944 because a letter to the family home somehow got lost  – is that White’s remains washed up on the breach at Anzio, according to the letter, found unopened in the house ears later when someone was undertaking renovations. She said the letter was from the chaplain, asking his family whether they wanted his remains to be shipped home  to America or buried locally.

Uzzle was a baby at the time.

“I’ve been trying to find his remains  for the past couple of years,” she said following the ceremonies.

As the ceremonial wreaths were laid, David Foster sounded ‘Amazing Grace, on the bagpipes.

Speakers included Ron Rivard of the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery Memorial Committee and Sanford Deputy Mayor Luke Lanigan.

“We are here to say ‘thank you’ and we are honored to serve you,” said Rivard.

“Freedom has a cost, and we take time today to show our respect and honor our fallen,” said Lanigan, who told those assembled that one of his sons has made the commitment to join the military.

Jessica Johnson and her son Julian Truitt played ‘Taps.’

Then, quietly and respectfully,  the wreath laying began.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.