On Saturday, Peterborough and Rindge joined with thousands of other locations across the United States to honor the veterans buried in their cemeteries with a ceremony in which volunteers laid wreaths on their graves and said their names aloud.

As part of the Wreaths Across America movement, the ceremony includes laying a han-made wreath, a salute or hand over the heart, and thanking each veteran by name. Jeff Roy, one of the organizers of the Wreaths Across America ceremony in Rindge, reminded the dozens of people who attended the ceremony at Hillside Cemetery on Saturday that a person dies twice – once upon their physical death, and again when no one is left to say their name.

“Remember, we are not here to decorate graves. We are here to remember, not their deaths, but rather their lives,” Roy said.

Larry Cleveland, one of the organizers of the Rindge event, said it was important for people to keep those who served in their hearts.

“We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free, and we shall not forget you,” Cleveland said.

Chaplain William Mullins opened the ceremony with a short speech and an opening prayer.

“This solemn occasion affords me the privilege of honoring our fallen soldiers, sailors, airman, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and Guardians. Every wreath laid on a hallowed headstone tells the story of one name at a time, the stories of men and women who answered the call to defend our nation, our Constitution and our natural interests here at home and around the world,” Mullins said.

A veteran himself, Mullins gave thanks to the sacrifices made by those who entered the military, during whatever time period they did so.

“They have answered in times of war, but also times of peace, so that you and I might enjoy those freedoms envisioned by our forefathers. These freedoms have often come at a terribly high price, and so we remember our fallen heroes, we honor their memory, and we highly resolve to teach the next generation the unsurpassed value of serving their country,” Mullins said.

Cleveland also gave thanks for those who served, saying that those who participated in Saturday’s ceremony were part of more than 4,900 ceremonies happening at the same time across the country.

“The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying here before us, in cemeteries across the nation, are men and women who gave their lives, so that we can live in freedom and without fear. We can worship as we see fit, and raise our children to believe as we do. We can vote for the leaders of our choosing, and have the right to succeed and we have the right to fail at whatever endeavor we chose to pursue,” Cleveland said.

Before individual wreaths were laid, members of various branches of the armed forces laid a symbolic wreath representing the entire branch. Special consideration was given to the veteran who laid the wreath representing the Army, Roland Goddard, who is the oldest living veteran in Rindge, having served in World War II.

After laying the wreath, Goddard gave a short statement, saying that the wreaths were “in honor of the many brave veterans,” and asking God to bless them and their families.

Currently, the Wreaths Across America organization is running a matching program, where any wreaths sponsored for next year’s ceremonies will be matched by the organization. To sponsor a wreath for the Rindge Hillside Cemetery, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/174920/Overview/?relatedId=0. The cost to sponsor a single wreath is $17, and can be designated for the Hillside Cemetery or for a specific grave within the cemetery.

In Peterborough, volunteers for Wreaths Across America placed wreaths honoring all branches of the armed forces at the Memorial Gates. After a brief ceremony, a group of volunteers, organized by KaitLynne Foote of Greenfield, continued on to place another 3oo wreaths on the graves of veterans in Peterborough’s cemeteries. 

Jesseca Timmons contributed to this story. Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.