MATTHEW BURNETTE, Staff Writer

Coffee County celebrated National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 14 with a ceremony at the Manchester Square and several others at cemeteries across the county.

Wreaths Across America distributes wreaths that are placed in honor or in memory of military veterans.

The ceremony at the Square was led by Cyndi Clower, the organizer for Wreaths Across America- Coffee County. Clower also sang the National Anthem and Reverend and U.S. Air Force Chaplin Marty Nutter gave the invocation.

“The program is supposed to be helping to honor those that have served and are currently serving and their families and teaching those that are coming up,” explained Clower after the ceremony. “So much of the history is lost and so much of the respect for the military is lost, so it’s teaching our young ones about the program and about what our military does and how they fight for our freedoms and our ability to even voice what we want, our First Amendment right. It’s to remember, honor, and teach.”

Wreaths were placed by the memorial monuments at the Coffee County Courthouse by volunteers in honor of the different branches of the military as well as those designated as Prisoners of War and Missing in Action.

Coffee County Mayor Dennis Hunt placed a wreath in memory of those who have served and are serving in the United States Merchant Marines.

“I appreciate all the sacrifices that my father, my uncle, made in the Army, Navy, Marines,” said Hunt. “My Great-Great Grandfather was in the Revolutionary War, so I appreciate the service of all the individuals that have given the most for our freedoms. It’s a good reflection on the community.”

Ceremonies were also held at Hurricane Grove Cemetery and Fredonia Cemetery in Manchester, Maplewood Cemetery and Oakwood Cemetery in Tullahoma, and Beech Grove Confederate Cemetery in Beech Grove.

The ceremony at Hurricane Grove was led by Coffee County Trustee John Marchesoni. Becky Buller sand the National Anthem, and her husband Jeff Haley gave the invocation.

The Coffee County Central High School Air Force Junior ROTC were on hand to present the colors in addition to placing wreaths.

Jeff Dittmer, a disabled Army veteran and father of the ROTC’s Commander, was one of the volunteers present to help place wreaths on the veterans’ graves. Dittmer says he enjoys participating in events honoring veterans.

“It’s nice to see people come out and still respect veterans. It’s different than it was a long time ago; it’s nice, the respect they get now,” he says. “With the daughter being in the ROTC and my status, I try to go to the things at the schools and try to support her in what she wants to do. It’s just nice to pay a little respect every now and then.”