Team Bridgeport Captures Win in National Wreaths Across America Pictures of Patriotism Contest
By Julie Perine on July 25, 2017 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Christa Parker and Team Bridgeport have captured the win in the Wreaths Across America Pictures of Patriotism Contest, winning 100 holiday wreaths to honor veterans at Bridgeport Cemetery.
The national contest was facilitated through online votes for the photo which best captured the spirit of patriotism. Parker submitted a photo by Danny Leary of the Silver Shutter, taken at the funeral of Private First Class Garrett Parker. The picture shows Christa Parker and her husband Master Sergeant Chris Parker shortly after being presented with a U.S. flag for their son’s military service.
Titled “No Greater Love,” the photo received a total of 2,579 votes.
A post on the Facebook page – through which votes were cast – said: “Christa, thank you for sharing this personal moment with all of us. We will never forget the service and sacrifice of your son.”
Parker credits a supportive extended community for winning the contest.
“Team Bridgeport couldn’t have done this without all the support of the community, friends from all over the U.S. and my family,” Parker said. “Everyone shared the picture on their Facebook asking their friends and family to vote.”
Bridgeport City Clerk Andrea Kerr credits Parker for her drive and enthusiasm for the project.
"Christa has taken this program and run with it. She has completely transformed the graves during the holidays," Kerr said. "Our cemetery is beautiful yearround, but Christa takes it to a new level. We are so appreciative for her and what she has done for the Bridgeport Cemetery to honor our veterans."
Parker said she is excited about the 100 wreaths because that means Team Bridgeport is one step closer to reaching this year's goal of 1,575 wreaths, which will enable the team to honor all U.S. veterans buried at Bridgeport Cemetery.
She has no doubt Bridgeport will make that happen.
“With the community we have here, I know we can reach our goal,” she said.
The wreaths purchased by community members, plus the 100 earned through the contest, will be delivered to Bridgeport in December and a ceremony will take place Dec. 16.
“We want every veteran recognized by saying their name and having a wreath placed at their grave this December,” she said
Parker implemented the Wreaths Across America program at Bridgeport Cemetery in 2016. After a nearly one-year wreath drive – during which members of the community were asked to purchase one or more wreaths – a ceremony was held in December during which time wreaths were placed on more than 1,000 gravesites.
Just this year, Parker added a Veteran Tree to the local Wreaths Across America campaign. On the tree are tags representing each branch of the military. The tags which can be selected and a wreath purchased to pay tribute to that arm of the service and honoring our veterans. On the back of each tag is a dog tag bearing step-by-step instructions on how to donate to Wreaths Across America Team Bridgeport.
U.S. Army is represented by a soldier; Marines by a globe and anchor; Air Force by a jet; Navy by a sailor hat, Army Air Force by a World War II plane and the Coast Guard by a boat.
The tree, which is based out of the Bridgeport Cemetery office, travels to various events, including the recent Family Day at Bridgeport City Park and the upcoming National Night Out, Aug. 1 at Bridgeport Pool/Benedum Civic Center.
Starting today, the tree will be at Starbucks at New Pointe Plaza.
Also new to the program this year is a toy soldier drive, the brainchild of Parker’s niece, Emmalee.
“We have a treasure chest full of toy soldiers, representing each branch of the military,” Parker said. “Take a soldier from the chest and place it somewhere to remind you to pray and never forget those who served our country.”
Donations of small toy soldiers can be dropped off at Bridgeport Cemetery, 400 Benedum Drive.
Wreaths can be ordered HERE using the code MI0121 to ensure the wreaths will be sent to Bridgeport Cemetery. Wreaths are $15 each. Again this year, for every two wreaths purchased, a third wreath will be added free of charge.
Garrett Parker was a 2011 graduate of Bridgeport High School, where he was a member of the Indians football team. He went on to enlist with the U.S. Army, serving on active duty in Fort Benning, Ga. as a member of the A Company, 1/15th Infantry Division. On Memorial Day weekend in 2014, he was tragically killed in an out-of-state motorcycle accident.
The photo below was taken at the December 2016 Wreaths Across America ceremony at Bridgeport Cemetery.
