Wreaths Across Rockaway

By Katie McFadden

Every year, as part of Wreaths Across America Day, thousands of wreaths are placed at graves, tombs and memorials for fallen soldiers across the country. The effort began in 1992 when Maine-based wreath company Worcester Wreath had a surplus and its owner Morrill Worchester, recalling an impactful trip to Arlington Cemetery as a 12-year-old boy, knew just the place to bring them. That quiet effort caught attention and by 2008, more than 60,000 volunteers in more than 300 locations in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries placed more than 100,000 wreaths on veterans’ graves. On December 13, 2008, Congress voted to make Wreaths Across America Day official.

Some may have noticed a similar growing effort around town at Rockaway’s veteran memorials over the years. Mike Honan, a U.S. Navy veteran of American Legion Post 272, recently reached out to The Rockaway Times, wanting to give credit to those who hang up the roughly 40 wreaths each year at Memorial Circle, Rockaway’s WWII memorial park, on Rockaway Beach Blvd. between Beach 120th and Beach 121st. “Every year for a number of years, the organization ‘Legends in Valor’ have placed wreaths at Memorial Circle during the holiday season in reverence for those who are remembered there. Many thanks to Flip Mullen, John C. and John V.  who took the time to place them on the trees at each marker,” Honan said.

In the years after 9/11, local resident, veteran and retired fireman Flip Mullen formed nonprofit Legends in Valor to help bring the Wounded Warriors to Rockaway for a weekend of fun. That torch has since been passed to Rockaway Warriors Weekend, which works with Hope for the Warriors to do the same. However, at the time, as soldiers went to war in response to 9/11, Legends in Valor raised money selling t-shirts saying things like the FDNY, NYPD, DSNY, NYC Supports the Troops. “We sold well over a million t-shirts and collected money to help vets in need,” Mullen said. That effort was so successful, that Mullen had funding leftover, so about 10 years ago, he was inspired to pay tribute to Rockaway’s fallen soldiers around the holidays.

“We were heavily involved with the Wounded Warriors and first brought them into Rockaway back in 2002, 2003, 2004, etc., for a number of years. People would open up their homes and we’d put soldiers up for the weekend. I still have some money left and that’s why I put the wreaths around Memorial Circle and at the veteran memorials for Michael Glover and others at St. Francis de Sales. I saw Wreaths Across America put them on tombstones in cemeteries across the country and said, well, no one is gonna do it here, so we’ll do it,” Mullen said. In addition to giving a monetary donation for the general upkeep of Memorial Circle, each year for about a decade, Mullen, with the help of Johnny C. and Johnny V., hang wreaths on all of the trees at Memorial Circle, purchased through Michael Visconti at Brooklyn Terminal Market, who Mullen says cuts them a break on the big order.

Others have taken notice. At this month’s Community Board 14 meeting, local resident Christine James, who is always looking for ways to spruce up the neighborhood, suggested funds be raised to brings wreaths to the WWI Doughboy and Doughgirl monuments on Beach 94th Street, after seeing the wreaths at Memorial Circle. “Up by Memorial Circle, the community donates money, and they have beautiful wreaths and people taking care of the area. I was wondering if there is a way to get donations to just buy a few wreaths with bows for the Christmas holiday, so it looks really nice?” James said at the meeting on December 9.

In discussing the wreaths at Memorial Circle on Monday, The Rockaway Times mentioned James’ request to Mullen. Without hesitation, Mullen said, “We’ll do it.”

In the meantime, James had already reached out to Liz and Lynn Duffy at Rockaway WISH to ask if they’d be willing to donate towards wreaths, and if WISH Jr., the female organization’s youth division, would want to get involved to help teach the next generation about the importance of honoring our veterans. Next thing James knew, on a chilly, snowy, Sunday, December 14, donning Santa hats, WISH Jr. delivered wreaths and red ribbons to the veteran monuments at Beach 94th, hanging them with care on trees surrounding the statues. “Thank you WISH Jr. of Rockaway for generously donating and decorating the Veterans Memorial on 94th Street,” James said.

Meanwhile, after the discussion with The Rockaway Times, Mullen had already purchased two wreaths for the statues, which were added to the bases of the statues themselves on Tuesday, December 16, making Rockaway’s Doughboy and Doughgirl fully decked out for the holidays.

Mullen says his next project is to get American and POW flags placed on the medians near Rockaway Beach Blvd. and Beach Channel Drive on Beach 116th Street. To help support this mission and other ways to support veterans, see: www.legendsinvalor.com. To support Rockaway WISH in their efforts, head to: www.rockawaywish.org