Holiday Veterans Salute

Volunteers and staff from the Canton Veterans Services Department helped place 1,600 wreaths at the graves of veterans buried at Canton Corner and St. Mary’s cemeteries. (Cynthia Rosina photo)

Canton Town Administrator Charles Doody and Veterans Agent Arafat Knight are pleased to share that the Canton Veterans Department teamed up this holiday season with local volunteers, the American Legion Post 24, and The Home Depot to memorialize veterans buried in the community with 1,600 donated wreaths and Christmas trees.

The Veterans Department then followed up on that volunteer effort with another one, delivering dozens of gifts to 11 students at the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech.

“It was great to give back to the community, especially during the holiday season,” said Knight. “Our veterans buried in Canton will always be remembered for their service to our country. Even during this busy time of year, we will never forget our heroes. We’re honored to provide this special recognition to our U.S. veterans from every era with the help of our volunteers and generous community partners.”

On December 17, a group of approximately 30 volunteers placed the 1,600 wreaths and trees at veterans’ graves at Canton Corner and St. Mary’s cemeteries over the course of three hours. This was the first large-scale holiday wreath-laying event held by the Veterans Department to honor veterans at their graves in Canton.

The 800 wreaths and 800 boxwood trees were provided to the community through an $11,000 grant from The Home Depot store in Norwood and The Home Depot Foundation. Of the 30 volunteers who participated, eight were Home Depot employees, including Marcia Geller, who coordinated the charity effort.

Trees laid by veterans’ graves are available to take and plant after the holiday season is finished. All remaining trees will be planted elsewhere in Canton.

The group of volunteers also included the National Charity League, Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, state Rep. William Galvin, Select Board Chair Michael Loughran, and other individuals from the community.

Two days later, Knight and a group of fellow military veterans visited the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in Canton to bring gifts for 11 children and enjoy cookies that they decorated together with the students. The event follows another visit on Veterans Day earlier this year when Knight and others came and read books with the students.

The presents gifted to the Clarke students were donated by the American Legion Post 24. Joining Knight for the visit to Clarke Schools were Canton Honor Guard members Henri Baum, Maureen Carroll, Fred Gladstone and Ed Lehan, along with dedicated Veterans Department volunteer Mary Lou Ezekiel. The event was organized by Veterans Department Administrator Cynthia Maddestra, and donations were coordinated by Post 24 Manager Julie Wedge.

“The students have loved meeting our veterans,” said Knight, who also serves as the commander for Post 24. “We’re trying to do something positive in our community, in addition to a lot of the paperwork and advocacy we do to serve our local veterans. Earlier when we visited, we realized at least two of the students have parents who are currently in the military. I said we should do something for them and all the kids here. I talked to the American Legion board, and they decided it would be a great idea. Thank you to all of our volunteers and to everyone who donated to make this such a special event.”

Doody also expressed his appreciation for all of those who contributed to the wreath laying effort and the visit to Clarke Schools. “Thank you to our Veterans Department, to Veterans Agent Arafat Knight and Administrator Cynthia Maddestra for their valued efforts to honor our veterans and to engage with the community in a special way at the Clarke Schools,” he said. “I’d like to offer our immense gratitude to The Home Depot for making this wreath-laying effort possible. And we offer our thanks to the American Legion Post 24 for its wonderful donation of gifts. Through these donations, our staff’s work, and our dedicated volunteers’ efforts, this has already been a holiday season to remember.”

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=130680

Posted by Canton Citizen on Jan 3 2025. Filed under Featured story. Both comments and pings are currently closed.