Roscoe military veteran participates in national event honoring fallen heroes

A local man was given the opportunity to participate in a coveted program honoring fallen military personnel across the nation.

Wreaths Across America is a national organization that honors the fallen who have served while helping to teach the next generation the value of freedom.

“This year, National Wreaths Across America [WAA] Day was held on Saturday, Dec. 14,” the organization said. “There were over two million volunteers and supporters who gathered to remember, honor, and teach at more than 4,600 participating locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad.”

The organization not only honors veterans on WAA Day, but with other efforts and events throughout the year including leading sponsorship groups and coordinating ceremony locations in honor of all veterans and in support of their families.

Those participating in the thousands of December WAA Day events across the nation either volunteer to delivery and place the wreaths or sponsor a veteran’s wreath. Those volunteering for wreath placement gather with other volunteers to place live, full, balsam wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s heroes while saying each veteran’s name aloud, helping to keep their memories alive.

Local resident, 62-year-old Michael (“Mike”) E. Larson, of Roscoe, was one of those that answered the call to volunteer this year. Larson began his extensive military career in 1981 and has served 14 years in the U.S. Army and 13 years in the U.S. Air Force. He currently resides in the Roscoe area with his wife Randee.

Each year, Larson’s longtime employer, Transland of Strafford (Mo.), selects one of their military veteran over-the-road drivers to participate in WWA Day, hauling and delivering wreaths throughout the U.S. The selected drivers, from numerous trucking companies, begin in Maine where the wreaths are loaded into their trailers and then travel west to deliver them, with each driver having an assigned location to deliver and help lay the wreaths on the stones of fellow veterans.

In a public statement, after Larson’s large delivery was received, one of Wreaths Across America’s Ohio chapters expressed their appreciation to Larson and Transland for their help and support.

For more information about WAA, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.