Wreaths Across America Arrives at Kemper Park

by Jan Northrup

Two tractor trailors hauling 10,000 wreaths arrived in a convoy
that included these cyclists. Photo by Rosita Fichtel.

(December 13, 2007) On their way to Arlington Cemetery from Harrington, Maine, two tractor trailers loaded with 10,000 donated wreaths pulled up alongside the Richard M. Kemper Park and a hush fell over the expectant crowd of local school and political leaders, veterans and community members. The trailers and an accompanying convoy were there as part of the Wreaths Across America project and had come with a wreath to lay at the World War II Memorial Park at Mamaroneck High School. (See: Journey of the Wreaths.)

Richard Cantor (left) receives a wreath from Morrill and Karen Worcester,
who began the wreath project in 1992. Photo by Lynne Crowley.

On behalf of the Mamaroneck School District, Richard Marsico of the Mamaroneck School Board welcomed the convoy. Morrill and Karen Worcester, of the Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington, Maine, who began donating and trucking wreaths to Arlington in 1992, presented one of their wreaths to Richard Cantor, nephew of Richard M. Kemper, for whom the Memorial Park is named. Mr. Cantor, with Tony Marsella, World War II veteran and brother of John J. Marsella, one of the honorees at the Memorial Park, on one side and Bill Capodanno, former Post Commander of the David Potts, Jr. Post 1156 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars on the other, then laid the wreath in front of the monument that tells why the Memorial Park exists and who it honors.

Judge John Williams from Maine stands with the Worcester
wreath at the Kemper Memorial Park. Photo by Lynne Crowley.

John Williams, State Judge Advocate of the Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars, presented Kathy Savolt, mayor of the Village of Mamaroneck, with a photo of the tombstones at Arlington Cemetery adorned with the Worcester balsam wreaths.

The event culminated when Tony Marsella sang Taps.

After the brief but moving ceremony, the convoy of approximately fifty people, young and old, adjourned to the Village of Mamaroneck Senior Center for lunch. Escorted by local police, the convoy then went on its way to Arlington Cemetery.

The Maine convoy included young members of the Civil Air Patrol. Photo by Lynne Crowley

Co-ordinated with wreath laying ceremonies across the nation at noon on Saturday, December 15, the 10,000 Maine wreaths will be laid at the national cemetery.

One of two tractor trailers hauling wreaths parked beside the park. Photo by Michael Scully.

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