"When I first started, I thought they cut the trees down," exclaimed Clifton ("Cliff) Vangilder, location coordinator for West Virginia National Cemetery regarding the making of veterans' wreaths. "I didn't realize how the process worked until I went up there to Maine and saw it for myself. I see now that the trees are tipped, we put the wreaths together, and they play their part in Wreaths Across America honoring our veterans." As a U.S. Marine (ret.), honoring veterans is important to Cliff. "I take a lot of pride in what I do to help other veterans. It means a lot to me whether it's Operation ActiVet or Wreaths Across America." Cliff is in his eighth-year volunteering for Wreaths Across America, the last three as a location coordinator.

Wreaths volunteers like Cliff are tenacious ambassadors for the mission to remember, honor, and teach. They're also trendsetters in their own right as they work to find solutions for logistical challenges associated with wreath-laying activities. Wreath disposal in the new year following National Wreaths Across America Day presented a challenge.

In yet another example of how the veteran's wreath is a catalyst for meaningful connections, it was suggested Cliff contact Jerod Harman with B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia. "Now the wreaths continue into the lakes for fish habitats and it's a big circle of life."

Jerod, whose father also served as a Marine, gives back in two volunteer positions, which he's held for eleven years. One as Conservation Director for the B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia, and the other as President of the West Virginia Wildlife Federation. "Anything that honors veterans stands out for me," shared Jerod. "That's what I want to be remembered for with this project. It's not necessarily about putting habitat in the lake as much as it's continuing the legacy of what these veterans laid to rest in the national cemeteries have done for us. We can take these wreaths, and their spirit lives on in the lake. Maybe one of their grandchildren will come to one day catch a fish off one of these structures."

B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia is made up of bass anglers and conservation volunteers who teach young people to fish with ethical values in competition and instill principles of conservation to use resources wisely and replenish them. For the last two years, retired veterans' wreaths have been collected and turned into fish habitat in Tygart Lake providing shelter from predators increasing their chances of maturing and spawning. It helps survival lifespan and reproduction rates necessary for a healthy fishery.

Jerod says making the structure is simple and can be replicated almost anywhere. PVC pipes are anchored with cinder blocks, and the wreaths are placed over the pipes. Rows are placed horizontally and vertically underwater offshore. When the wreaths deteriorate the metal-rings are removed as new wreaths are placed on the structure.

"We've been very careful to cause no harm to the environment with the fish structures. The Corps of Engineers is tickled to death with what we're doing, and we've worked hand-in-hand with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. There's an enormous amount of support for this project."

Both Cliff and Jerod would be honored to see their fish story grow across the nation with other participating Wreaths Across America locations. You're encouraged to reach out to your state's conservation director to see if a fish habitat project like this one could work for your area.

The attitude of respect is commonplace for Wreaths Across America, yet never taken for granted. Respect for those who stand to serve and their families, those who have fallen, and respect for the environment.

The fresh veteran's wreaths you sponsor are made from the stems of mighty balsam-fir trees. Season after season, those trees stand tall against wind, snow, sleet, rain, and drought. Thousands of dog tags among their branches glisten and clink as a "living" tribute to the men and women who endured great personal sacrificed to protect liberty and freedom. When you visit and look closely, you can say their names over the vast forest of trees and reflect a moment on how they lived. Their stories are sustainable from stem to stone, and now to the lakes.