Wreaths Across America honors fallen service members, despite dwindling donations

Hundreds of volunteers fanned out into Section R of Long Island National Cemetery Saturday afternoon holding wreaths with red bows.

One by one, the volunteers placed a wreath centered against a headstone, continuing an annual tradition of honoring fallen service members started by Wreaths Across America, a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007.

In years past, as many as 11 tractor trailers offloaded 40,000 wreaths. But on Saturday, that number had dwindled to two tractor trailers, and just over 7,000 wreaths, an organizer said.

Courtney George, the location coordinator for Wreaths Across America at Long Island National Cemetery in Pinelawn , said "donations were down tremendously" — a nationwide trend she tied to difficult economic times. Long Island, though, appeared to be hit particularly hard as corporate donations dried up, she said.

"I'd love for us to have the amount we used to have," George said in an interview following the brief ceremony. "This is a great way to share with people why donations are so important."

She said donations can still be made through Dec. 31 and for every wreath donated specifically to Long Island National, Wreaths Across America will provide a match.

At Calverton National Cemetery, about 8,000 wreaths were placed Saturday, George said.

Ceremonies were also held in Huntington at Huntington Old Burial Hill Cemetery and Uniondale at Greenfield Cemetery.

As many as 2 million volunteers nationwide and abroad are estimated to participate in the annual Wreaths Across America, according to the organization. The national nonprofit promoted a theme this year of "Keep Moving Forward," inspired by the final words of Army Capt. Joshua Byers, who was killed in Iraq in 2003 by an improvised explosive device.

Danny DeSanti, a youth lacrosse coach for a club program Unltd Select, gathered the group of elementary and middle school boys after they began placing wreaths. He spoke to them about the sacrifice made by service members.

"It's important to remember just really what this all means, that we have the easy life because of what they sacrificed," he said afterward.

DeSanti, 28, a Dix Hills native, played lacrosse for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Army veteran Mike Prall of Huntington brought his sons, Mason, 8, and Logan, 6, who are both members of Cub Scout Pack 406. Prall taught his sons how to say the service member's name out loud at the headstone.

"And we thank them for their service and thank them for what they did for us," he said.

Stacey Dunbar, 48, of East Meadow, said she and her son, Luke, 11, selected headstones of veterans representing different wars and branches of the military.

"It warms your heart to do something for these guys who are fallen heroes," she said.

Michael Boyd, 44, of Sayville, and his son, Michael, 14, stood silently for a moment at the grave site of Arthur D. Piccolo to honor the Army private who died in 1944 during World War II.

Piccolo was 21.

The younger Boyd said military service is an important part of his family.

"It should be important to everybody," he added.