Weirton man had driving role in Wreaths Across America
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WEIRTON -- Jack Newbrough of Weirton logged some travel time on behalf of Wreaths Across America, which was observed Saturday on a national level as well throughout the area at various cemeteries and locations.
WAA 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, according to the WAA website. "The organization's mission -- 'Remember, Honor, Teach' -- is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as thousands of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond."
This year, more than 2,000 cemeteries across the country were expected to be participating in the solemn ceremony of placing live pine wreaths on the graves of veterans as part of a program developed to remember the veterans who died in service to our country, to honor those who serve and their families, according to promotional material.
A driver for the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Wintersville and a veteran himself, Newbrough said in a phone conversation that he signed up to volunteer his time to help get wreaths for the services from one leg of the journey to the next and gladly so.
"I thought it was something important to do," commented the Navy veteran who served during Desert Storm and is active in the American Legion and VFW.
A wreath he was presented for the front of the truck he drove was one he planned to place on the grave of his brother, the late James Newbrough, who was a Vietnam veteran and is buried at St. Paul's Cemetery in Weirton.
Newbrough left the morning of Dec. 10, joining two other drivers in the Grove City, Ohio, Columbus awaiting the wreaths coming from the first leg of the journey -- from Maine. The three tractor-trailers left Grove City for their destination - St. James, Mo., a 528-trip that took about 10 hours.
From there other drivers transported the wreaths to Oklahoma, then Arizona and finally, California.
Newbrough said he and the two other drivers got a police escort out of Grove City, and a flag was suspended from a fire department ladder truck they passed by.