By Olivia Clark, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
This article was updated on 12/18/25 at 5:00pm
On December 13, 2025, Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary hosted National Wreaths Across America Day, the nationwide celebration remembering and honoring veterans, for the 11th and final time.
The morning sun broke through the fog as veterans, active-duty servicemembers, Buffalo Soldiers, San Diego JROTC, families, volunteers, local girl scout troops, and other community members, gathered in the beautiful hillside corner of Greenwood Memorial Park.
The ceremony was led by Dee Sanford, Greenwood’s co-location coordinator. Speakers and special guests were plentiful and included Mayor Todd Gloria and District 4 City Councilmember Henry Foster III.
Similar ceremonies honoring veterans with prayer and Remembrance Wreaths were held at nearly 5,600 other locations nationwide. The event at Greenwood was one of three in San Diego, the other two locations being Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and Miramar National Cemetery.
Greenwood Memorial Park is the final resting place for approximately 10,000 American veterans and was the first private cemetery in San Diego to celebrate Wreaths Across America. This year, however, as Greenwood prepared to end the tradition, there were only about 2,000 wreaths available — far fewer than in previous years. “They cut us back…normally, we’d have wreaths for all these graves over here,” said Ms. Sanford. “Headquarters, they’re just so far removed from this location, that they don’t have any heart for the community.”
Trooper Rachel Hilliard, President of the San Diego Chapter Buffalo Soldiers, and other Troopers dedicated to preserving the legacy of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, have been coming to Greenwood for the past 11 years to help honor the lives and legacies of veterans. The experience is “an honor. It really is. Because we don’t just represent African Americans, we represent all of the military,” she said.
The day was not only spent honoring veterans, but also acknowledging that this would be the final time the event would be held on the grounds of Greenwood. In her remarks, Ms. Sanford said solemnly, “It’s just been an honor. I am deeply saddened that we won’t be able to hold the ceremony again, but we never know what God has in store. So we’re gonna keep the faith.”
Before the ceremony concluded and wreaths were placed on as many veterans’ headstones and grave-plots as wreaths allowed, Gloria James, Greenwood’s other co-location coordinator, gave her final remarks. She offered a reminder of the importance of saying the names of the veterans as they were honored and respected. “We die twice. The first time, when our physical body passes, and the last time your name is called,” she said.
JROTC Cadets made sure to walk around the grounds and to say the names, honor, and salute the veterans whose graves could not be adorned with wreaths.
Next year, National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2026. For some veterans laid to rest at Greenwood Memorial Park, their resting places may no longer be adorned with the fresh evergreens symbolic of honor and living tribute, their names may no longer be spoken aloud.
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