Wreaths Across America: A Reflection on Unity, Service, and Remembrance
- Calibre Engineering
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
At Calibre Engineering, our mission of exploration, service, and support extends beyond the projects we design and into the communities and people we serve. As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, honoring veterans is not just a value we talk about—it’s something we actively live. This December, Calibre organized a team outing to participate in Wreaths Across America at Fort Logan National Cemetery, bringing employees and their families together in service, remembrance, and gratitude. What follows is a reflection from Emily Villines, Vice President, Strategic Communications, who attended the event with her family and colleagues and beautifully captured the quiet moments, shared humanity, and sense of unity that made the day so meaningful for our team.
As I walked with my husband and children across the entryway at Fort Logan National Cemetery, the American flag fluttered proudly in the breeze. Sunlight danced on my daughter’s golden hair as we joined people from every walk of life, including several of my Calibre colleagues. Some faces were solemn—a man gently lifted a woman who had fallen to her knees in grief. Others radiated joy—children waved flags and played in the open spaces. People arrived in large groups or quietly by themselves. Active-duty military members and veterans appeared in uniform, and one man stood at attention, holding a salute throughout the entire remembrance ceremony. Amidst it all, I felt comforted by the sense of unity in a world that so often feels divided.
As I listened to the words of remembrance and honor, I reflected on the millions of visitors and volunteers supporting Wreaths Across America nationwide. In that same moment, people from California to Alaska, New York to Florida, stood on the grounds of National Veterans Cemeteries. I thought about the service members, survivors, families, and loved ones. Walking among the white headstones, meticulously polished for the event, I was struck by our unity—how deeply we are connected, despite our differences.
We all love our loved ones.
While at Fort Logan, my family visited the gravesite of one of my dad’s childhood friends. My dad served in the U.S. Army, and his friend Scott served in the Air Force. My dad often recounts stories about Scott—a rebel and a thrill-seeker who could make my dad laugh like few others. Though Scott was sometimes misunderstood, their bond remained strong. As Americans, as human beings, our love for those close to us unites us.
We all appreciate people who sacrifice for us.
Listening to the many visitors at Fort Logan National Cemetery, I heard stories as varied as the people themselves. Parents of fallen soldiers, spouses of deployed service members, and toddlers visiting with their veteran grandparents filled the grounds. Some had experienced sacrifice firsthand; others understood it from a distance. Yet on that sunny and unexpectedly warm December morning, everyone gathered to honor and appreciate those who sacrificed for the freedoms we cherish as Americans.
We all honor our lost.
Millions of wreaths are placed at Wreaths Across America events throughout the United States and around the world. Though we practice different faiths, remember our lost in our own ways, and serve in many branches or roles, Americans share a deep reverence for honoring those we have lost.
As we move into the 2025 holiday season, let’s take time to appreciate one another and recognize the connections that bind us. We may differ in countless ways, and our values may not always align, but together we form a community—loving our loved ones and honoring the fallen. There is greater strength in unity than in division, and we accomplish more together than we ever could alone. Here’s to honoring our active, veteran, and fallen service members.
