Indiana Wesleyan University’s Dr. Constance Cherry, professor of worship, represented IWU in offering the invocation and benediction at the 2018 Wreaths Across America ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 15 at Marion National Cemetery. Cherry and other volunteers placed 5,100 wreathes on graves at the cemetery.
The ceremony included veterans representing each branch of the military as well as Brigadier General Ronald A. Westfall, who was the guest speaker. Westfall, of the Indiana National Guard and recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantry Badge, gave a speech on “remember, honor, teach.”
“It was inspiring to be surrounded by hundreds of service people and citizens who cherish freedom,” said Cherry. “The greatest blessing was to minister through prayer. During the benediction, taken from Scripture, I noticed a veteran directly in front of me who visibly wept as the blessing touched his life in some way. Who knows what he has suffered? God knows.”
Wreaths Across America is an organization that holds events in all 50 states, at sea and abroad, including Arlington National Cemetery to “remember the fallen, honor the serving and teach the children”, according to its mission statement.