SULLIVAN — Ashland County community members gathered Saturday at Southview Cemetery to lay wreaths on veterans’ graves and honor their sacrifices to America.
Suzanne Runals, President of the Wellington Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6941, coordinated the event for her hometown for the second year in a row.
She helped fundraise $3,910 which purchased 230 wreaths for the 230 veterans buried at Southview Cemetery.
“I’m so proud of it,” Runals said. “This is very special to me.”
The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of Pack 7556, placed the wreaths on the graves ahead of the noon ceremony, which included the pack’s first color guard and a speech from Cub Scout Liam Bishop.
“Honor to me is something that is earned; I feel that every veteran dead or alive, active or reserve, has earned that respect,” Bishop told the crowd.
“As young people, especially as scouts, it’s our responsibility to learn about the past and pass those lessons down. By taking part in Wreaths Across America. we learn respect, citizenship and leadership. We learn that freedom doesn’t happen by accident.”
Runals and Sheriff Kurt J. Schneider also offered brief speeches.
“The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying here before us, and in cemeteries throughout this nation, are men and women who gave their lives so we can live with freedom and without fear,” Runals said.
“Today is just another example of why we live here in Ashland County because we know how important our veterans are,” Schneider told the crowd. “For the next several weeks, I would ask each of you, while you are sitting around the dinner table or spending time with your families take to pause and reflect on all of those who serve our nation.”
Retired veteran and Senior Vice Commander of VFW Post 6941 Harold Runals read each of the 240 names of the veterans buried at the cemetery before Boyd Workman, from Black River Schools, played Taps.
The ceremony was not unique to Sullivan: it was part of the national Wreaths Across America celebration as one of over 5,200 participating locations in all 50 states, according to the website.
The 2025 theme was “Keep moving forward.”
Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, started the tradition quietly in 1992 with the laying of wreaths at Arlington Cemetery.
By 2006, other civic organizations began hosting simultaneous wreath-laying ceremonies at over 150 locations around the country, according to the website.
Each year, the ceremony has grown in size and participating locations. Runals said she plans to continue organizing the ceremony for years to come.
“It teaches our children and honors the veterans at the same time. Freedom isn’t free,” Runals said.
Veterans Week is brought to you by Ralph Phillips VFW Post 291, Agent of VFW Ohio Charities. Join us in recognizing local heroes by submitting a tribute to a veteran in your life!
