A Christmas calling: Thorpe family makes annual pilgrimage to Arlington

Following traditions make the holiday season special for many families.

For the past seven years, Stephanie Melber has circled a Saturday on her December calendar for when her family travels to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., to participate in the Wreaths Across America ceremony.

The event is personal for the Melbers. Stephanie’s husband, James, had two grandfathers who were in the military: Dan Plesniarski was in the Army, and James Melber was a Marine.

“We’re never quite sure of how many of us will go,” said Melber, about her husband and her six children. “It depends upon work schedules, but we still had a group of seven who made the trip this year, and that includes my daughter-in-law Julia and her 1-year-old child.”

This year’s event took place last Saturday. Melber’s sister-in-law Rebeka Melber, who works in the Pentagon, was the initial inspiration for the family to experience what Stephanie calls “an overwhelming appreciation” for the men and women buried at Arlington who dedicated their lives for America.

The cemetery is 624 acres, and more than 400,000 military men and women and special dignitaries are buried there. An average of 30 funerals take place on the grounds each day, and more than 3 million people visit Arlington each year.

“The event begins when miles of huge trucks carrying wreaths from New England come into the cemetery,” said Melber, a lifetime resident of Jim Thorpe.

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit program that purchases and delivers a live evergreen wreath for each and every one who is buried at Arlington. The cost is paid through donations from American citizens.

“Not only does every grave have a wreath laid upon it, but each person buried there has his or her name announced during the ceremony.”

The wreath has significant meaning for the season. Its circular shape symbolizes eternity, for it has no beginning and no end. It represents an unending circle of life. The evergreen, most frequently used in making wreaths, stands for growth and everlasting life.

One of those buried at Arlington is Sgt. Andrew J. “AJ” Baddick, who Melber remembers as a schoolmate in Jim Thorpe Area High School.

He was an Army sergeant who died in 2003 while trying to rescue a fellow soldier whose vehicle had plunged into the water during a mortar attack.

The new Route 903 bridge in Jim Thorpe is named after Baddick.

“The laying of the wreaths is a great history lesson, especially for children,” she explained.

“I just kind of let the kids take it all in while we are there, and then on the drive home, they’ll ask questions because they are curious about a lot of what goes on there and about the men and women buried there, too. We also make it a point to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor those men who are nameless and gave up their lives for their country.”

Melber was accompanied to Washington by her sons, Noah, 15; Rowan, 14; Gabriel 7; and her daughter, Charlotte, 4.

“We did a few other wonderful activities when were are there. We saw the White House Christmas tree. We went to the space museum, and the kids really enjoyed the zoo.

“It’s really an overwhelming experience,” Melber said.

“The vast number of graves and so many lives lost. You can get a sense of how many people paid the ultimate sacrifice to serve their country.”

For those who would like to make a pledge, go to https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.