Janice, Mark, David and Paul Brown all grew up in Gallup. Today, no matter where they live, three of them remember the fourth with a wreath.
Each year on a Saturday, Wreaths Across America Day is coordinated nationwide with Arlington National Cemetery. It is the day that live wreaths are laid on the graves of veterans.
It’s a job that Janice Bradley took on when she saw a story about the organization on television. Bradley contacted her brothers Paul and David about sponsoring a wreath for their brother Mark Brown, Sgt. E5, who served in the Army in Viet Nam, Korea and Desert Storm.
The Brown family sponsored additional wreaths for veterans in the Santa Fe cemetery.
David, who lives in Gallup, became interested in sponsoring wreaths for the Gallup State Veterans Cemetery when it opened May 27, 2019.
Bradley joined in that effort, first as a volunteer, later as a coordinator.
Janice and her husband Jack and David and his wife Kim began walking and counting the number of veterans buried in Gallup and reached 1300.
They began talking to people about becoming coordinators for the Gallup cemeteries and organizing volunteers.
This year’s goal is 1500 wreaths.
Here is the way to provide fresh Balsam wreaths from Maine for veterans at four cemeteries in Gallup.
To order online for the Gallup State Veterans Cemetery, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/NM0066.
For Sunset Memorial Cemetery, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/NM0067.
For Gallup City Cemetery, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/NM0068.
For Hillcrest Cemetery, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/NM0069.
There are also mail-in forms for those who don’t work online.
Wreaths cost $15. If two wreaths are sponsored, Wreaths Across America will donate a third wreath at no charge.
If more wreaths are purchased than are needed, they will be sent to another Gallup cemetery or credited for the following year.
While the date for the wreath-laying is scheduled for Dec. 18 this year, Wreaths Across America is starting to raise the funds for the wreaths now.
The 2020 event was held virtually.
This year’s ceremony in Gallup will be live and is expected to begin at the Veterans Helping Veterans building before people disperse to specific cemeteries to place wreaths.
This free, non-political, non-profit event focuses on remembering, honoring and teaching. The Gallup chapter of WAA continues to seek community organizations to raise funds to sponsor wreaths.
By Beth Blakeman
Managing Editor
