Hundreds of people got up early Saturday morning and placed wreaths on the graves of veterans at Bakersfield National Cemetery.
"It's just something that brings warmth as a community to honor them,” says Ray Nomura, a Vietnam veteran and member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1468.
Families, veterans and volunteers gathered to show their respect and appreciation for those who served our country.
"The last couple of years I’ve been coming laying a wreath for my friend honoring him for his service to our country,” says Vietnam veteran John Ramirez.
The Bocanegra family came from Fresno to lay flowers and a wreath beside their loved one Rodolpho Bocanegra's grave.
"I remember my father and remember the dedication that he had and a lot of the other veterans who sacrificed their lives for the nation," said Marco Bocanegra.
Rodolpho Bocanegra was a Vietnam veteran, who served in the Army and died two years ago.
"When I don't think about my father, I can talk no problem,” he says. “But on a day like today, it's very hard."
There are nearly 2,000 graves at the cemetery in Arvin. Volunteers make sure each one is covered as part of the fourth annual Wreaths across America project the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club holds.
Organizers say they had several young people help this year from Cub Scouts to high school honor societies.
“We’ve had a tremendous number of young people,” says Tom Pasek, volunteer president of the Bakersfield National Cemetery’s support committee. “The youth are really getting involved and learning the importance of the history of our country and the sacrifices that have been made to make this such a great place."
For many families, laying a wreath is like celebrating the holidays with their loved ones.
"This is a way that we can share Christmas with our father," Bocanegra says.
The wreaths will remain on the veterans' graves until January 15.
"It's just something that brings warmth as a community to honor them,” says Ray Nomura, a Vietnam veteran and member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1468.
Families, veterans and volunteers gathered to show their respect and appreciation for those who served our country.
"The last couple of years I’ve been coming laying a wreath for my friend honoring him for his service to our country,” says Vietnam veteran John Ramirez.
The Bocanegra family came from Fresno to lay flowers and a wreath beside their loved one Rodolpho Bocanegra's grave.
"I remember my father and remember the dedication that he had and a lot of the other veterans who sacrificed their lives for the nation," said Marco Bocanegra.
Rodolpho Bocanegra was a Vietnam veteran, who served in the Army and died two years ago.
"When I don't think about my father, I can talk no problem,” he says. “But on a day like today, it's very hard."
There are nearly 2,000 graves at the cemetery in Arvin. Volunteers make sure each one is covered as part of the fourth annual Wreaths across America project the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club holds.
Organizers say they had several young people help this year from Cub Scouts to high school honor societies.
“We’ve had a tremendous number of young people,” says Tom Pasek, volunteer president of the Bakersfield National Cemetery’s support committee. “The youth are really getting involved and learning the importance of the history of our country and the sacrifices that have been made to make this such a great place."
For many families, laying a wreath is like celebrating the holidays with their loved ones.
"This is a way that we can share Christmas with our father," Bocanegra says.
The wreaths will remain on the veterans' graves until January 15.