Cullman honors veterans during Wreaths Across America ceremony
CULLMAN, Ala. – “Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach our children the value of freedom.”
The Cullman community gathered Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Cullman City Cemetery for the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony to reflect on that mission, joining thousands of locations nationwide in honoring fallen service members during the holiday season.
This year’s ceremony marked a significant milestone for the local effort, with more than 1,400 wreaths sponsored, exceeding the goal by 12.8%, while also adding additional local cemetery sites who held their own Wreaths Across America ceremonies. Each sponsored wreath covered the cost of its production and delivery, allowing volunteers the opportunity to place wreaths on veterans’ graves throughout the cemetery following the ceremony. As part of the tradition, volunteers paused at each grave to speak the veteran’s name aloud in an act of remembrance.
This year’s ceremony was led by Athelia Gibbs and Anita Winslow, Cullman City Cemetery coordinators for Wreaths Across America and members of the Dripping Springs Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Gibbs welcomed attendees and opened the ceremony by reiterating the organization’s mission.
“Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the mission to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families and teach the next generation the value of freedom,” Gibbs said.
She asked attendees to observe a moment of silence in honor of fallen service members, prisoners of war and those missing in action. Rev. Jimmy McClendon of Smith Lake Baptist Church led the prayer.
“This year, across the country, at many participating locations like this one, there are millions of Americans gathering safely as one nation to remember, honor and teach,” Gibbs opened. “We are all proud to be Americans who live in a free society made up of many people from many walks of life. The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price.”
She added, “Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear. We can worship as we see fit. We can raise our children to believe as we do. We are free to vote for the leaders of our choosing. And we have the right to succeed and the right to fail, at whatever endeavor we wish to pursue.
“The United States of America was founded on the ideals of freedom, justice and equality. Our nation stands as a shining beacon of liberty and freedom to the world. We thank those who gave their lives to keep us free, and we shall not forget you. We shall remember.”
Gibbs also took time to recognize both veterans and active-duty service members, including those serving at home and abroad, expressing gratitude for their sacrifices and those of their families.
“Many of you here today have answered that call and served your country well,” she stated. “For this, we say, ‘Thank you,’ and we are honored to know you. There are many men and women serving today in all branches of the military, here at home and in places far away, that most of us have never heard of. We honor them and their families for the sacrifices they make each day to keep our country safe from terrorism, hatred and injustice.”
Gibbs ended the opening ceremony with a quote from former President Ronald Reagan, reminding attendees of the responsibility placed on future generations.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction,” she shared. “It must be fought for, protected and handed on. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States, where men were free.”
The ceremonial wreath laying followed, with the JROTC honor guard presenting arms as veteran representatives placed wreaths in honor of each branch of the U.S. military, as well as prisoners of war and those missing in action. Each ceremonial wreath was placed on a central pedestal at the gravesite of Col. John G. Cullmann, with a final salute offered by those presenting the wreaths.
Afterward, Captain Jon Green, representing the military, addressed the crowd and spoke about the importance of pausing to reflect during the holiday season.
“So, what are we doing here? What’s going on?” Green said. “Well, this is about the weight of remembrance. What’s happening right now is everybody’s getting ready for Christmas, the hustle and bustle. Everybody’s running back and forth. This is a time to slow down, stop and remember the veterans that are here.”
He continued, “I am proud to say that both my grandfather and father are buried here in the Cullman City Cemetery. They will both have wreaths on their graves after today.”
Cullman Police Officer Eric Cole, an Army veteran, also addressed the audience.
“The military prepared me for a lot, but it was the most simple of things that I felt ill-prepared for when I came home,” Cole said. “People saying, ‘Thank you for your service’ and for me to say, ‘You’re welcome’ just rang hollow and incomplete.”
Cole shared a perspective he learned from another veteran he read an article about.
“When they were thanked, they would simply reply with ‘You’re welcome,’” he shared. “It’s a simple remark, but it encapsulates so much of where we chose to go and serve our country. Each one of these people that we honor today did the same and I think if they were here, they would simply say, ‘You’re welcome.’ We did it for the country. We did it for each of you.
“I pray that we continue to be a county that’s deserving of being told ‘You’re welcome,’” he added. “I pray that we continue to be people who honor our veterans, honor our country and live patriotic lives, as we are showing this morning. May God bless each of you and may God bless America.”
Patriotic music was provided by the Brass Quartet from the Cullman Community Band throughout the ceremony. “Taps” concluded the ceremony, performed by Cliff Hatfield.
With the conclusion of the ceremony, volunteers, made up of family members, friends, fellow service members, local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and other community members, set out to ensure each veteran’s grave was blanketed with a wreath. Many would kneel in place at the headstone of a hero, or simply pause for a moment, saying aloud the veteran’s name, honoring his or her service and sacrifice in keeping with the mission of Wreaths Across America.
For Raiden Day, an 8-year-old whose great-grandfather is Army veteran and Cullman County Veterans Hall of Fame inductee Van Hutchins Jr., the ceremony marked his first time participating in the wreath laying. Day spent the next hour alongside his uncle, Tommy Hutchins, who earlier led the national anthem, placing wreaths and saying the names of veterans they encountered throughout the cemetery.
During the experience, Day learned about his own family’s military history, including the story behind his mother Karlie Day’s name, which honors her great-grandfather, World War II Army veteran Carl Edgeworth. Day had the honor of dressing his headstone with one of the ceremonial wreaths.
“I liked saying their names because it felt like we were remembering them,” he said. “It was cool to know my family helped, too.”
Wreaths Across America’s 2026 sponsorships are already open. Each wreath costs $17 to sponsor and will go toward ensuring that even more graves are covered next year.
Community members can support the effort by sponsoring wreaths or reaching out to Athelia Gibbs at 256-505-2040 or awgibbs65@gmail.com for more information. Those wishing to go ahead and sponsor a wreath can do so at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
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