On a gray and misty morning, Freemasons joined together with Wreaths Across America for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Princeton Battlefield State Park, honoring veterans and those currently serving in the military.
The wreath-laying ceremony at the state park on Mercer Road, which was one of 1,600 ceremonies held in military cemeteries and other locations nationwide on Dec. 14, was held by the 15th Masonic District of New Jersey Free & Accepted Masons.
Wreaths Across America traces its beginnings to Maine businessman Morrill Worcester of Worcester Wreath Co. in Massachusetts. He donated wreaths and started an annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992. It has grown into a nationwide event.
The Princeton Battlefield State Park was chosen for a wreath-laying ceremony because the remains of 15 American soldiers and 21 British soldiers are buried in unmarked graves, behind the columns on the west side of the Revolutionary War battlefield.
Freemasonry, a fraternal organization, has a lengthy association with military veterans dating back to the American Revolutionary War, said master of ceremonies Brian Hartel.
Hartel is the District Deputy Grand Master of the 15th Masonic District of New Jersey.
Nearly half of the generals in the Continental Army were Masons, including George Washington and Hugh Mercer, Hartel said.
British officers and soldiers were also counted among the members of Freemasonry, Hartel said.
Freemasonry is the world’s oldest fraternal organization, Hartel said. It traces its origins to the local fraternities of stonemasons in 14th century Europe. The British brought Freemasonry to the North American colonies.
Having woven together the link between Freemasonry and the Revolutionary War, modern day Masons laid seven wreaths – one for each branch of the military and one for POW/MIA soldiers – in honor of those who served and who are serving in the military.
One by one, a wreath was laid for the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Merchant Marine.
A wreath was laid for the 93,129 American servicemen who are prisoners of war or missing in action and who never returned home to their families, Hartel said.
“These balsam wreaths convey our honoring those who have served and are serving in the armed forces of our great nation and to their families, who endure sacrifices every day for us,” he said.
Hartel told the attendees that “we wish for you likewise to appreciate the freedom we enjoy today.”
He told them that they must be ready to defend freedom so they can pass it on to their children, “[just] as your forebears passed it on to you,” he said.
Then, historic reenactors from the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment and the 2nd New Jersey Regiment fired their replica muskets three times.
A bugler played “Taps,” and the Trenton Marine Corps League Detachment No. 207 honor guard retired the American and Marine Corps League Detachment flags.