After the ceremony, a procession led by Portland Police Highland Guard member Garth Edwards, playing bagpipes, and the Patriot Guard Riders, proceeded out to the cemetery grounds, where members of the Young Marines began lay- ing wreaths on graves. Crawford said that Vancouver Mayor- elect Anne McEnerny-Ogle laid the first wreath on the grave of Billy Butz. Butz was killed in action in 1950 and was listed as missing, until being recently identified and buried at Ever- green Memorial Gardens. Each time a wreath was placed on a grave,the Young Marine placing it would read the name of the veteran and take a moment to stand and salute the grave. The Wreaths Across America Cer- emony helps remind people of the fact that life in America is not “given, it’s very much paid for,” Langley said. Some of the wreaths were sponsored by family members that were unable to visit the graves of their relatives very of- ten. Langley said that one vet- eran’s daughter lived in Alabama but sponsored a wreath for the Young Marines to lay on her mother’s grave. According to Langley, the Wreaths Across America ceremony is about “hon- oring those around Christmas time that might not have some- body to remember them”. YM/Pvt Chasity Cherrington agreed. “I feel honored to be there since they can’t be there and their family can’t be there at Christmas”. Unit Commander Lewis said that the ceremony is not simply an annual event, but rath- er part of a continuing effort of remembrance year round. Abigail Bambilla, an administrative assistant for the Young Marines and a former Young Marine, said that the Wreaths Across America ceremony helps to get “people outside their own perspective” and recognize that “this is so much bigger than just myself or one cemetery”. The Young Marines or- ganization helps younger citizens understand the importance not only of re- membering veterans, but what it means to be an American citizen, as well as why that is significant and why the sacrifices of others contribute to the freedoms Americans enjoy. (Information excerpted from an article by Alex Peru pub- lished in Clark County Today website [http://www.clark- countytoday.com/]) Members of the Lewis and Clark (WA) Young Marines helped place over 600 wreaths on veterans’graves at the Evergreen Memorial Gardens as part of the Wreaths Across America ceremony. (Left): YM/ LCpl Keelen Goldsworth places a wreath on a veteran’s grave. (Right): YM/ Pvt Victor Wright salutes a veteran’s grave after placing a wreath. 38 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE