National Wreaths Across America Day was celebrated Saturday in Manteca.
Over 500 veterans were remembered, honored, and their graves adorned with a wreath through this initiative. The event marked a historic moment for the city, transforming the cemetery into a space of remembrance, reflection, and collective gratitude, according to Nihar Jain.
The Manteca City Ambassador and Battalion Commander of the East Union High Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp organized the first-ever Wreaths Across America Ceremony at East Union Cemetery.
Many gathered in solemn unity, joining other communities across the nation in honoring America’s fallen heroes.
“I’m proud to serve as the 23rd Manteca City Ambassador, to be a Mantecan, and a part of the family of this city,” Jain said to those in attendance. “I am so honored to have the opportunity to use this event to bring our community together.”
He acknowledged the veterans in their final resting place as those who “didn’t ask for recognition – they simply answered a call, quietly and without condition.”
The ceremony was part of Manteca Youth Focus’s advocacy project initiative, a core component of the organization’s scholarship and titleholder program. Through this initiative, each titleholder is encouraged to design and lead a meaningful community project that addresses a real local need.
Jain selected Wreaths Across America as his advocacy focus.
He used the platform of the Manteca City Ambassador title to create an event rooted in service, education, and remembrance while engaging with local youth and community members.
The Ambassador program is unique in the state. Unlike traditional scholarship programs that limit leadership titles to young women, Jain said that Manteca Youth Focus offers young men equal opportunities to earn scholarships and serve as official representatives of the city alongside their “Miss” female title counterparts.
Titles such as Manteca City Ambassador, Teen Manteca City Ambassador, and a range of holiday and festival themed Ambassador roles allow him and others to lead in public events, advocate for causes they care about, and develop leadership skills while giving back to the community.
The Wreaths Across America ceremony stood as a visible example of how those titles translate into real civic impact.
Throughout the program, Jain emphasized remembrance not as a symbolic gesture, but as an active commitment.
Organizing the ceremony, Jain shared, revealed the strength of Manteca’s civic spirit – a testament to that was community members, businesses, and organizations coming together to donate more than $9,000 to support this effort.
“This wasn’t just money for wreaths,” he said. “The community and I were stitching together a promise: that Manteca will never forget its fallen.”
A central tradition of Wreaths Across America was observed as volunteers were encouraged to say each veteran’s name aloud while placing a wreath.
“Not numbers. Not ranks. Names,” Jain said. “As long as their names are said, people never really leave us.”
Among those in attendance were Manteca Unified Trustee / Manteca Police Chief Stephen Schluer, Stockton City Councilman Mario Enríquez, Army Major General (Ret.) Eldon Regua, Manteca Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Clara Schmiedt, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6311 Commander Michael Cearley Sr., American Legion Post 249 Commander Karleen Smith Kurys, Gold Star Sister Jeni Kopp, and Manteca Youth Focus Board of Directors President Douglas Scott.
Dignitaries included Manteca Mayor Gary Singh and Vice Mayor Regina Lackey coupled with Beckett Kelly representing San Joaquin County Supervisor Sonny Dhaliwal's office, and Katie Jaycox representing Congressman Josh Harder's office.
In addition, Manteca City Councilman David Breitenbucher, Joseph Johnson and more than 75 individual and in-kind donors were among those who sponsored 504 wreaths for the cemetery.
East Union Cemetery board members and Friends of EU Cemetery also helped to host the ceremony.
As wreaths were laid and names spoken, the message of the day remained clear.
“We’re not here to decorate graves,” Jain said. “We’re here to honor lives.”
With its first Wreaths Across America ceremony now complete and graves adorned with balsam fir wreaths, he noted that “Manteca established a new tradition rooted in gratitude, service, and remembrance, one that will endure for generations to come.”
