Defense contractor employees volunteer to honor veterans at the holidays

Saturday, December 14 was National Wreaths Across America Day. 

The mission of Wreaths Across America is to remember fallen veterans, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.

The annual event takes place through coordinated wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 4,600 locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad.

Northrop Grumman’s Veterans, Employees, and Reservists Inspired to Act and Serve (VERITAS) Employee Resource Group in Huntsville began participating in Wreaths Across America in 2018. 

Since then it has grown considerably, with over 17,000 wreaths sponsored. 

This year, several dozen volunteers gathered at Valhalla Memory Gardens to lay over 650 employee-sponsored wreaths on the graves of veterans interred there. 

VERITAS is a Northrop Grumman employee resource group committed to recognizing and supporting active duty, Reserve, National Guard, and veterans through community outreach and networking programs aligned with company and sector-wide business objectives.

Over time, other area businesses have become involved in the tradition. 

This past Saturday’s event included volunteers from Northrop Grumman, Leidos Dynetics, Lockheed Martin, Accenture Federal Services, Walmart, the Boy Scouts, and other community groups. 

Ian Reynolds, vice president of the C4 Missile Defense business unit for Northrop Grumman in Huntsville, spoke to the volunteers gathered for the event.

“I want to thank you for coming together as a community to honor our veterans,” said Reynolds.

People with family members interred at Valhalla were handed wreaths and allowed to proceed first.

Volunteer efforts were not limited to local participants.

One out-of-state family member contacted VERITAS to say that their father-in-law, a WWII veteran, was interred at Valhalla. They asked if a wreath could be laid on their family member’s grave.

After a diligent search, Northrop Grumman volunteers located the grave site and laid the wreath, sending a photo to the loved ones.

“I really appreciate seeing our community coming out here and recognizing those who’ve gone before,” said Lisa DeVine of Leidos Dynetics.

This year’s Wreaths Across America theme was “Living with Purpose”, encapsulated in the volunteer’s contribution to honoring local veterans by reflecting on their sacrifice as they laid the wreaths, and teaching their children and grandchildren what it means to serve.