ON THE second Saturday in December, volunteers with arms ringed with balsam wreaths tied with red velvet bows make their way among the headstones at cemeteries across the country. The sound of muffled voices and crunching footsteps on grass stiffened by frost gradually filled the air. Stopping at a grave, the volunteers of all ages step forward. With reverence and purpose, they approach the marker and gently place the wreath. The volunteer speaks the name of the fallen service member — a simple act ensuring the legacy of duty, service, and sacrifice is never forgotten.
It’s a time of solemn reflection as the volunteers fan out and respectfully deliver a symbol representing the nation’s commitment to “remember, honor, and teach.” And for family members and loved ones gathered around the graves, it’s a tangible connection to the memory of their fallen heroes. It’s part of the national Wreaths Across America program.
In 2023, volunteers and members of American Legion Riders Post 42 (ALRP42) and One Sent Riders conducted ceremonies at Lincoln County Cemetery and Kirkland Cemetery. Several members of ALRP42 assisted with previous Wreaths Across America ceremonies in Tullahoma. It was an honor they desired for Lincoln County, too. Debbie Lipsie of ALRP42 and Mona Payne of the One Sent Riders of Fayetteville teamed up and obtained approval for their organizations as sponsoring groups.
Lipsie said, “It’s not just about decorating veterans’ graves. The bigger takeaway here is that by performing these ceremonies and supporting Wreaths Across America, we are able to instill in our younger generations the feeling of community, service, and being able to give back. [It’s] to remember that those names we are honoring are not just stones, but folks from our community who fought for our freedoms, as well as to instill a sense of patriotism and desire to serve our great community.”
The community’s response to last year’s ceremonies was encouraging.
“The American Legion Riders Post 42 has received nothing but positive feedback from the community and families whose resting places were covered last year. Although we don’t do it for recognition, it certainly makes us smile when members of the community reach out to us and tell us stories and tales of those we are honoring,” commented Lipsie.
There’s more to the program than the ceremony. Wreaths Across America requires each cemetery to register under a sponsoring group. Lincoln Cemetery and Kirkland Cemetery board members, alongside The Farmhouse at Two Trees, assisted with the 2023 cemetery registration. The sponsoring groups purchased the wreaths through fundraising efforts. The groups and volunteers later removed the wreaths, and plans for the following year’s ceremonies began anew.
“We are fortunate to live in a community where everyone helps out. We approached several other groups to help us with the laying and cleanup of the wreaths. We had the One Sent Riders, Voodoo Custom Cars, and members from several other motorcycle enthusiast clubs help us,” Lipsie shared.
The community’s support was outstanding.
“We held three fundraisers leading up to the event, and the community really showed up to help us get our goals accomplished for 2023,” she said. “Of course, for 2024 and the years following, you’ll see us setting up rides and road fundraisers to continue to support our efforts.”
According to the American Legion’s website, the American Legion Riders are a patriotic veterans organization chartered by Congress in 1919. Each group consists of the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of the American Legion members, who are also motorcycle owners or spouses of owners. The Riders’ work and community involvement support veterans and their families through charitable and ceremonial activities.
Locally, ALRP42 hosts three annual rides: the spring Blessing of the Bikes, the Fall Run, and the annual American Legion Riders Legacy Run. Donations to these events help fund the group’s yearly angel tree for local veterans, a girls softball team sponsorship, funeral home assistance for fallen service members or veterans, financial assistance for local veterans experiencing financial difficulties, and other local nonprofits.
ALRP42 proudly works with the Patriot Guard Riders, standing flag lines at veterans’ funerals throughout the area, extending from Nashville to Huntsville.
Lipsie stated, “I am a proud Navy veteran, part of the American Legion Post 42, and an officer in the American Legion Riders Post 42. I am continually surrounded by other veterans who still have the desire to serve and protect, and that camaraderie is irreplaceable. I am proud of our Riders group and what all we have accomplished here in Fayetteville in the past four years that we have been chartered. I feel that the Riders are truly part of my extended family, and we are willing to help our community in any way we can.”
It’s full-circle support at its finest.“Many veterans struggle to find their ‘in’ when they come home. The American Legion and American Legion Riders help recreate that much-missed camaraderie. The Riders in Fayetteville have all become great friends, and many consider each other family. It’s all about being around others who can commiserate and understand what you’ve been through without having to explain it,” she said.
Volunteers honor the legacy of fallen service members with reverence and purpose through the Wreaths Across America program. For Lipsie and the members of ALRP42, these Lincoln County ceremonies echo the enduring values of service, patriotism, and community. As wreaths are laid and stories shared, we are reminded that in honoring the past, we forge bonds that strengthen our shared future.
From fundraising efforts to flag lines at veterans’ funerals, members ensure that no veteran is forgotten and that every sacrifice is honored, embodying the true spirit of service. GN
