Mark ‘Wreaths Across America Day’ at Fort Ontario Dec. 14

OSWEGO COUNTY – Fort Ontario State Historic Site welcomes visitors to commemorate National Wreaths Across America Day Saturday, Dec. 14. The ceremony begins at noon in front of the enlisted men’s barracks inside the old stone fort. Following the ceremony, attendees will participate in the “Parade of Wreaths,” where they will escort veterans’ wreaths from inside the fort to the Post Cemetery. The program is free to the public and all ages are welcome.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event is Lieutenant Colonel Gregory V. Humble of the Syracuse Recruiting Battalion. He came to Syracuse after serving as the Core Services Project Coordinator for Headquarters – Allied Command Transformation – North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Norfolk, Virginia.

Lt. Col. Humble previously served in key operational, staff and command positions including platoon leader and company executive officer Delta Company, 123d Signal Battalion, Fort Stewart, G.A.; Battalion S6, 92nd Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), Fort Stewart, G.A; Company Commander, Special Troops Battalion of the 3d Sustainment Brigade, Fort Stewart, G.A.; commander of the Charlotte Recruiting Company, Charlotte, N.C.; Brigade S6 for the 173rd IBCT (A) in Vicenza, Italy; and Synchronization and Operations Branch Chief, Mission Command Division, HQDA, G-3/5/7 at the Pentagon. His operational experience includes three deployments to Iraq and one deployment to Afghanistan.

A distinguished military officer, Lt. Col. Humble received his commission in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 2001. He graduated from Radford University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He also has master’s degrees in information technology management from Webster University and in general studies from the Command and General Staff College.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Army Staff Badge and the Parachutist Badge.

Other guest speakers for the event include Oswego Mayor Robert Corradino, Fort Ontario State Historic Site Manager Matthew MacVittie, and Wreaths Across America Location Coordinator Corey King.

National Wreaths Across America Day is a free, non-political, non-denominational community event open to all people. There is ample parking in the main lot at the front entrance, and visitors are advised to dress accordingly for the day’s weather.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission, “Remember, Honor, Teach,” is carried out each year in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries across the U.S. and beyond.

The Fort Ontario Post Cemetery is the resting place for 77 officers, soldiers and civilians who served at, or were associated with, Fort Ontario from 1756 to 1943.

For more information or to volunteer, contact WAA Location Coordinator Corey King at [email protected] or call Fort Ontario State Historic Site at 315-343-4711.

For program updates, follow the Wreaths Across America at the Fort Ontario Post Cemetery Facebook page @FortOntarioWAA.

Print this entry