December 17, 2023
Pocatello–Saturday’s frigid weather didn’t cool the community’s determination to remember their fallen veterans at the Wreaths Across America ceremony.
Several dozen people, including Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad and Bannock County Commissioner John Crowder, came together at Mountain View Cemetery’s Service Men and Women’s monument yesterday morning to watch as the Civil Air Patrol’s Pocatello Composite Squadron placed wreaths in honor of the fallen heroes in every branch of the armed services, as well as the Merchant Marine and those who were taken Prisoners of War or remain Missing in Action.
After the wreaths were placed, Mayor Blad addressed the crowd. He first tendered Chubbuck Mayor Kevin England’s regrets for his inability to attend the ceremony, then presented a joint mayoral proclamation naming December 16 as Wreaths Across America Day and recognizing the contributions of the Civil Air Patrol, the POW*MIA Awareness Association, and the Worcester Wreath Company.
In closing, a 21-gun salute was fired and Heather Petrella of Buglers Across America played Taps. Following the ceremony, volunteers placed over 200 wreaths on individual veteran’s graves.
