CHAPIN, S.C. — On Saturday, Chapin Christian Community Church commemorated fallen soldiers with its annual Wreaths Across America ceremony. This day honors those who served in our armed forces and made the ultimate sacrifice.
“I’ve never had anyone to honor my relatives that I am aware of; I'll put it like that," said Margaret Oxner, a resident and attendee of the event.
Oxner honored five family members, including her father, for the first time and said she is happy that veterans now have the resources to help them cope.
“So, a lot of the things my dad went through, kind of brought it to the forefront of what he was enduring, and I wasn’t even aware of the services that was out there that could help," Oxner said.
"I just thank God that he was honored today - all of our relatives were honored today," she said. "But I am happy all of my relatives were honored.”
As the names of the fallen were called and relatives placed wreaths on headstones, another woman, Emma Nelson, said she came out to support her friends.
“I don’t have a member here, but I do know quite a few members that are," she said.
Nelson said her way of honoring those in her family was to be a placeholder for her friends who couldn't be there."
“It is an honor to be able to do this on their behalf," she added. "They were not here to do it; I just felt so gracious to be able to get up and just be on their behalf, you know, in their absence."
Volunteers and sponsorship groups have raised funds throughout the year to sponsor the placement of 52 veterans' wreaths on the headstones.
