Wreaths
MARIETTA, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -The 20th anniversary for “Wreaths Across America” turned into a historic event here in Georgia.
For the first time, members of the Confederate Army were included in nation’s wreath laying ceremony, and it happened at Marietta’s Confederate Cemetery.
The original goal was to lay 100 wreaths, but the event got so much attention it was more like 150 and it even drew in people from other states.
Nationwide more than a million wreaths will be laid, but to many people here in the south there were none more important than the ones laid in Marietta.
Betty Hunter is with the Confederate Cemetery Foundation. “The ceremony represents men and women from all different wars, but this to us is very a special occasion,” said Hunter.
That’s because even though some people’s ancestors are buried and honored in the historic cemetery they were never recognized on a national level until now.
They said even though the Confederate flag may stir up controversy for some, that doesn’t mean they should be forgotten.
Houston Spencer is event organizer and part of the Old Guard. “These men died for a cause. Whatever side you want to come down on, but they died fighting for what we appreciate today,” said Spencer.
Dan Williams and others drove over all the way from Alabama to be a part of it. “We saw the news on the Internet and we just really had to be involved with this ceremony,” said Williams.
And that’s exactly what organizers had hoped for.
“We like people to know more about the history of the cemetery and this brings people in to see our cemetery and visit Brown Park,” said Hunter.
This may have been the first time the wreaths were laid in Marietta but organizers said it won’t be the last.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.