National Wreath Project! Gettysburg & Quantico (2 Viewers)

[scmbgetty]

All Tree Frogers are welcome to participate!

Sgt. Mac Foundation
Attn: Stan Clark
915 Fairview Avenue
Gettysburg, PA 17325
717-337-1728
scmb@earthlink.net


National Wreath Project

On 3 December 2010 Volunteers will gather at the Gettysburg National Cemetery and place over 1,600 Christmas Wreaths on the graves of our Veterans. This project is an extension of a program started 4 years ago by John and Susan McColley and the Sgt Mac Foundation. The McColleys are parents of Gettysburg native and United States Marine Corps Sergeant Eric McColley who was killed along with 7 other Marines and 2 Airmen in a helicopter accident in the Horn of Africa on 17 February 2006. Last year the Foundation placed 2,100 wreaths on graves at Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia were Eric is interred. We also placed approximately 800 wreaths in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. This year we will expand the number of Wreaths to include ALL of the headstones in the original section of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. With the financial assistance of local and other Veterans organizations, private and business support we are able to expand this program. We also received and are seeking assistance from any patriotic Americans across the Country.

We will meet at the GIANT FOOD STORE parking lot on Route 30/York Road in Gettysburg, PA at 0800 Friday December 3rd, 2010 to tie the bows on the wreaths. At 12:45 PM we will meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to the Gettysburg National Cemetery and place wreaths on over 1,600 graves. The following day, Saturday December 4, 2009 we will meet at Quantico National Cemetery at 0930 and place approximately wreaths on 2,500 gravesites. Your attendance and support is most welcome. We would like to expand the program every year but in order to do so, we need additional support financially and logistically. The cost of the wreaths this year is $ 7.50 each. With sufficient support, we would like to expand this project every year. If you would like to participate in this project, please contact Stan Clark at 717-337-1728 or e-mail at scmb@earthlink.net

Contributions can be made out to the SGT MAC FOUNDATION and mailed to the above address or made via PAYPAL to account scmb@earthlink.net Thank-you for your support.

Best regards,

Stan Clark
Board of Directors
Sgt. Mac Foundation
717-337-1728
scmb@earthlink.net

 

[Scott]

If the soldier were not a Christian, perhaps that $7.50 could go to the USO or living veterans relief.

 

[Terp152]

Stan

Sending my check tomorrow. Thanks for doing this.

 

[scmbgetty]

On behalf of John and Susan McColley and the SGT MAC FOUNDATION, I would like to thank everyone who participated in the NATIONAL WREATH PROJECT this year. Special thanks to our corporate sponsors: GIANT FOOD STORES, ABF FREIGHT SYSTEMS, GETTYSBURG ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE, GETTYSBURG AGWAY and JACOBY TRANSPORTATION. Also to all individuals, businesses and organizations that made financial commitments and everyone to came out to participate in person.

The Project was a tremendous success by any measure. We had record turnouts at the Giant Store for attaching the bows to the wreaths, as well as at both Gettysburg and Quantico National Cemeteries. We were able to place wreaths on all 1,620 headstones at Gettysburg and 2,600 at Quantico.

As usual, the Foundation is responsible for checking the wreaths at Gettysburg National Cemetery everyday to ensure that they have not been blown over by the weather. We are also responsible for removing them in January. If anyone would like to assist me in either of those two jobs, I would appreciate the help. Also if anyone would like to make a donation or get info on next years project – please contact me at scmb@earthlink.net or 717-337-1728.

Semper Fidelis!
Stan Clark
Board of Directors
SGT MAC Foundation

 

[Scott]

Is that a Christian only cemetery?

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Stan, Thank you so much for helping honor our fallen warriors!

Cheers!
Vick

 

[scmbgetty]

Is that a Christian only cemetery?

It is an American National Cemetery. Any qualified United States military Veteran is eligible to be interred there - regarless of religion or lack thereof - as it is in all National Cemeteries.

 

[Scott]

Since that is true are all the graves decorated of Christian servicemen? These are Christmas wreaths we're talking about.

 

[Warrior]

Since that is true are all the graves decorated of Christian servicemen? These are Christmas wreaths we're talking about.

Wow.

Double Wow is all I can say.

Great gesture on your part Stan and the family of the deceased soldier.

 

[Scott]

Wow is right. I have seen photos of Christmas wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery. The marked graves of non-Christian service people are not decorated. While this is respectful on the part of the people in the program, the Christmas wreath decoration program sets these non-Christian graves apart from Christians in a very visible way. In the ideal, these are graves of American service people united by service to the United States. The US flag is a uniting symbol in this case. A Christian Christmas symbol, more visible than the religion symbols on the grave stones, has the opposite effect. If this program was done to Revolutionary War soldiers it would be inappropriate to both the Deists and strict Protestants who didn't celebrate Christmas in the 18th century. If done to German American soldiers graves from the Civil War it would be inappropriate to those "48'ers" and Free thinkers. Christmas decorations could also be inappropriate again to some Protestant sects from the Confederate side.



Antietam Battle field where candle luminaries were set up to represent those killed in the battle. Not blue or gray but a light representing a life.

http://www.nps.gov/anti/planyourvisit/luminary.htm

 

[Warrior]

Wow is right. I have seen photos of Christmas wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery. The marked graves of non-Christian service people are not decorated. While this is respectful on the part of the people in the program, the Christmas wreath decoration program sets these non-Christian graves apart from Christians in a very visible way. In the ideal, these are graves of American service people united by service to the United States. The US flag is a uniting symbol in this case. A Christian Christmas symbol, more visible than the religion symbols on the grave stones, has the opposite effect. If this program was done to Revolutionary War soldiers it would be inappropriate to both the Deists and strict Protestants who didn't celebrate Christmas in the 18th century. If done to German American soldiers graves from the Civil War it would be inappropriate to those "48'ers" and Free thinkers. Christmas decorations could also be inappropriate again to some Protestant sects from the Confederate side.



Antietam Battle field where candle luminaries were set up to represent those killed in the battle. Not blue or gray but a light representing a life.

http://www.nps.gov/anti/planyourvisit/luminary.htm

You are trying to somehow make a point with all of this which I could care less about.

You ought to think about moving to Cambridge, you'd fit in much better there than in Gloucester.

Better yet, go to Gettysburg and take the wreaths off of all of the non Christian soldiers if it makes you feel any better.

You have way too much time on your hands, find a hobby.

 

[Scott]

So you got all that from a few facts about American's religions and an actual example of a way of honoring all Americans who died at at Antietam?

I'm not trying to make a point, I am making a point. The wreath project sounds good at first until you really think about it.

 

[Warrior]

I'm not trying to make a point, I am making a point. The wreath project sounds good at first until you really think about it.

No, you're not making a point.

What you are doing is a disservice to those who served, died fighting for their country, the parents who lost a son and who came up with this terrific idea, the companies who sponsor it and the folks who give of their time to make it happen.

Like I said, move to Cambridge, you'd be among your kind there.

 

[4th Hussar]

Scott'
I have to agree with George - anything else I would like to say about your comments would be quickly deleted by the moderators

 

[kogu]

So you got all that from a few facts about American's religions and an actual example of a way of honoring all Americans who died at at Antietam?

I'm not trying to make a point, I am making a point. The wreath project sounds good at first until you really think about it.

How sick is that?
There are people out there who are honoring the service of soldiers, which were and are a group of various racial roots and religions, mixed together but going for the same goal, the fight for this country.
Isn't it to appreciate that these soldiers get honored.
Is it not an honor when a blessing is said in a different language as yours, if it comes from a person who does not share your religion? My English is not good enough to elaborate about what I want to say, but I am sure everyone who wants will get my point.
Who cares, what religion someone comes from, when with his gesture he honors the troops as a group?
I must say, that I find this most disturbing and irritating.
Konrad

 

[Scott]

Gents, Think about it. It's imposing one's own religion on dead American soldiers. There are memorial wreaths but these are Christmas wreaths laid at Christmas time. Don't construct a "straw man" on what I wrote. I did offer the Antietam example of a light symbolizing a life.

 

[Scott]

Hussar, If you wish to cuss at me you can use the personal message option and I will reply.

 

[Warrior]

Gents, Think about it. It's imposing one's own religion on dead American soldiers.

Why don't you go to Gettsyburg next year and let everyone know your thoughts, specifically the parents of the deceased soldier who came up with the idea.

I'm sure they'll appreciate your view on this.

 

[maddadicus]

Gents, Think about it. It's imposing one's own religion on dead American soldiers. There are memorial wreaths but these are Christmas wreaths laid at Christmas time. Don't construct a "straw man" on what I wrote. I did offer the Antietam example of a light symbolizing a life.

I was going to comment, but it is far too easy to take a shot at views like this. There are times that we as members must treat remarks like this as forum trolling to get a reaction. If we ignore the posting, surely he will realize that no one cares about his opinion and it will go away..Great job for the event...Michael

 

[Warrior]

I was going to comment, but it is far too easy to take a shot at views like this. There are times that we as members must treat remarks like this as forum trolling to get a reaction. If we ignore the posting, surely he will realize that no one cares about his opinion and it will go away..Great job for the event...Michael

I agree with Michael on this, let's just move on and focus on the event and the message they were trying to send.

Again, a terrific idea and if I can manage a trip to Getttysburg next year, I'd like to get involved.

Thanks for posting this Stan, I didn't intend to hijack the thread, sorry if I did........