Wreaths From China Anger U.S. Veteran’s Son

DIXON (CBS13) — The Sacramento Valley National Cemetery decorated gravesites in wreaths to honor U.S. veterans, but a closer look has one veteran’s son calling it a dishonor.

What’s in place beyond the gates looks like a touching tribute just in time for the holidays. That’s what Craig Allen thought at first. But on the other side of the wreaths’ red ribbons is a sticker that reads “Made In China.”

That’s a decoration declaration that’s not sitting well with Allen.

“I think it’s a desecration of the graves,” he told CBS13. “It’s an incredible insult.”

He brought his mother for her first visit to his father’s grave. It would’ve been 1st Lt. Bradford H Allen’s 89th birthday. He was a B-24 bomber pilot.

“I think my father would be quite upset,” Allen said about a field of fallen heroes who fought for freedom now being adorned with just one of what’s become billions of dollars in Chinese imports.

“Pure corporate greed where they saved a few pennies on each wreath and made these wreaths in china, in Communist China,” Allen said.

CBS13 asked the Department of Veterans Affairs for a response, and it said the decorations are all funded through donations.

“The wreaths are purchased and placed on the graves out of respect and gratitude of the volunteers,” said Josephine

So it was a good deed with an unintended consequence. The global reach of China’s booming economy hit a little too close to home for the holidays.

“Somebody somewhere should’ve said uh-oh,” Allen said. “I mean I’m not some right wing wacko here. I’m about as liberal as they come. But we need to make a stand. Some things need to be made in America.”

observer

hey fool, what’s import has to do w/ your father? So would it be different if it was made in London, France, Canada, Mexico.

Come on, just don’t be double standard and bias.
Donald B Littlefield, President, Sons of the American Revolution, Sacramento Chapter

I am frustrated with this CBS13 story about one individual being “angered” by the wreaths at Sacramento Valley National National Cemetery (SVNC). I do not recall seeing CBS Channel 13 TV News trucks at SVNC at 9:00 AM on Saturday, Decmeber 10, 2011 when several thousand inviduals came to SVNC to honor those buried there. The wreaths are funded by contributions to a nonprofit organization called Wreaths Across America. WalMart donates the freight transportaion to get the wreaths from Maine to Dixon, The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution as well as Veterans organizations and individuals spend countless hours throughout the year to make these events happen at every VA National Cemetery. To give voice to one man who comes here after the fact and ridicules the placement of these wreaths and calls them a desecration is completely unfair. One only has to look into the hearts of each and every wife, husband, mother, father, grandparent. son, daughter, veteran, or volunteer, who participated to know the real truth of what these wreaths mean to them.
gna

Hey fool don’t call other people fool . .
Carmichael Craig

@Observer…. Your an idiot!! American veterans died fighting against communism… Some were even killed by communist Chinese troops in Korea and Vietnam…. To have wreaths made in communist china placed on the grave of brave Americans is the utmost insult…. And yes it would be OK if they were made in any other country!!!
Glenn S Dixon

This is a rhetorical question, but why would channel 13 NOT send a filmcrew on Dec. 10th to film the Thousands of Patriotic Americans placing DONATED wreaths, and show a local, Wonderful, International honoring of our Veterans for “Wreaths Across America??” This whining dillweed is a disgrace to his Father’s memory. Where was he on Dec. 10th? Did HE Donate his money for wreaths?
Carmichael Craig

First off it wasn’t Wreaths Across America who put the communist made wreaths on the graves of brave solders who died fighting communism ….It was a local splinter group…. Secondly the media needs to be informed of events, they just don’t magically appear…. So maybe no one from Wreaths Across America contacted the media to inform them of the nice tribute they made to our fallen solders!!!! DILLWEED!!!!
Carmichael Craig

First off it wasn’t Wreaths Across America who put the communist made wreaths on the graves of brave solders who died fighting communism ….It was a local splinter group…. Secondly the media needs to be informed of events, they just don’t magically appear…. So maybe no one from Wreaths Across America contacted the media to inform them of the nice tribute they made to our fallen solders!!!!
Carmichael Craig

I’m sorry if your offended but your plain wrong…. The made by commie wreaths were not put their by Wreaths Across America bus some splinter group who complained about the cost of the American made Wreaths. I personalty contacted Wreaths Across America and they were just as outraged that Wreaths made in communist China were being put on graves of men who fought and died while fighting communism!!!!
woolee

First off, I am a DAR, I am the daughter of a Veteran buried there, and I am on the volunteer list to lay wreaths… I AM offended the wreaths are NOT made in the USA!!! to Honor USA veterans who died to uphold the freedoms of every US Citizen. If I had seen this… I would certainly have thrown a fit, stirred the pot, etc. While WalMart may have donated the transpo, it doesn’t make it any more “right” that they came from a foreign communist country.. I just don’t find this very comforting.. and frankly I am a little ticked…
woolee

Gee Carmichael Craig.. I believe you may be the idiot, the people who laid the wreaths are “VOLUNTEERS” and are made up of sons and daughters and wives and husbands of those who have fallen… I know…I am on the list…
woolee

Gee Carmichael Craig.. I believe you may be the idiot, the people who laid the wreaths are “VOLUNTEERS” and are made up of sons and daughters and wives and husbands of those who have fallen… I know…I am on the list… Be a Volunteer!
Carmichael Craig

Woolee, I appreciate your anger…. But, their were two groups placing wreaths… I did not know this either… Their was a second group placing the commie made wreaths… The Wreaths Across America wreaths are all made in America and Walmart shipped them for free….
Carmichael Craig

Hmmmmmm…. I have no idea what your talking about as I never said anything about who placed the wreaths only the fact they were made in communist China….
Merry Christmas

Wow, how about you all sit down and smoke a joint….

This is getting silly now….

Just like anything in this world, there are 2 sides to every story…

Right or wrong, the deed has been done… The intentions were honorable, and I say accept it in the spirit that it was given…..

Peace & Harmony to all this Christmas Time…..
PJ

Sigh. ‘Volunteering to make the place look nice for visitors sounded like a good idea. I also despise “Made in China” for what it stands for, the least being its record of human oppression. However, did he call CBS13 about the unpatriotic origins of his clothes? Car? Foreign-made TV? The presents lying under his Christmas Tree? His point would have been more effectively made should he have approached the volunteer committee(s), thanked them for their loyal service from the bottom of his heart, and requested that all future marker decorations be American-made, keeping in tradition of honoring those who have left us, and reminding us of what they fought for. I’d like to think this is more about his missing his Dad, and caring about his Mom during a bittersweet time of the year.
Shirley Seastrand

How many other products do we all buy that are made in China. When I saw made in China on the bow I thought it was just the Bow was made in China. 10,000 headstones were decorated with a green wreath with a red bow. It took 30 minutes to do this task. That’s how many voluteeers helped to get this beautiful deed done. Maybe bring your own next time…..Just a thought….
ww2af8Memorial

@observer: Yes, it would make a difference because France, Canada, and Mexico are not communist countries….fool.

The American fathers that fought during the Korean war were fighting against the Communist North Koreans that were supported by the Communist Chinese. Many Americans died because of Communist China’s support of the North Koreans during the Korean war…fool.

Those U.S. veterans did not die because of France, Canada or Mexico…fool.
Tapestry

i would say the Chinese were our allies in WW2 if anyone recalls the history.
If he was that angry he could volunteer to find an American company that could supply them with wreathes next year and help pay for them.
But I do see a trend of products being made in the USA, the other day I found a couch made here that was so unique I bought it. You just have to really look! You have to pay a higher price but you can find toys, clothing and furniture made in the USA. I even got my Christmas tree tinsel from a company in the USA. Seek and ye shall find.
david

don’t get it. the USA, and NATO, fought the Korean war to a tie losing to north korea and its ally china, perhaps russia too. the USA, and NATO, fought north vietnam and its allies china and russia and lost. today USA vietnam combat veterans travel to visit and befriend Vietnam, all communist, for some sort of closure. the USA trades today with vietnam and china. china gets foreign aid from the USA and at the same time loans money to the USA as well buying USA debt. it’s not all that cut and dry as some would like to think so the wreaths are just a drop in the bucket. china owns us today. cuba has been communist for years and fidel castro has stood even though those holding the office of potus have come and gone. communism might be viewed as evil but it has done well and in the case of china, a wealthy nation, has bested democracy or so it seems today. check labels on all of your purchases and you will see china, vietnam most of the time.
Caligirl

My new years resolution is to buy American. I hope that other people join me in supporting our country. If our country starts exporting more than we import we would not be in the financial predicament we are in today. Here is a web site that makes sure that you are buying American made products.

http://www.madeinusa.com/
jackie

If they ever put a wreath made in Vietnam on my sons grave I would be furious, this was absolutely an insult to every single fallen vet in the cemetary. I do not care who and why made this gross error but it is totally unacceptable and the person who is knocking the media for reporting this but not being at the event is a jerk. We don’t care if they were not there but we do care that they let us know that the wreaths made in China were placed on the graves and the person or persons who ordered them must be 20 years old and has never been taught anything in school about vets who gave their lives to keep them free and safe. Start all over have a bon fire and burn the damn wreaths and replace them with “MADE IN AMERICA” wreaths.
Joinus

Seems like I read a story just a few weeks ago in November about the donation of extra wreaths from an American company that donated many many wreaths for Arlingtin National Cemetary for Veterans Day. Yes, an American Company. Of course when you mentioned Walmart donated the delivery of these latest wreaths you explained it all. Because Walmart sells very very little American made anything. Most products are foreign made including the fish. I myself take these China made wreaths as a slap in the face also. Yes, all these people gave there time and all that but did they even know that China made these wreaths? Being a Veteran I do take it as an offence to place China wreaths on American soldiers graves.
faith tyler

I would be interested to know if the entire wreath was made in China or only the bow Not that any of it should come from China Both of my parents are buried there
Chuck

Lets face it. This is not about the wreaths. It is about our politicians earning lots of money, spending millions on stuff they don’t need and out sourcing billions of dollars of work to China. American businesses cannot compete because of unions and enviromental regulations and China has neither. At the grass roots level we can attempt to buy American but you’ll spend a long time shopping for some items. When is the last time any of you wrote your politician or marched on Washington in protest of this selling out of America. Politicians love these little blog spots because people sit around typing to nowhere instead of pestering them.
calvet

Craig,

You’re a loser!!! Those wreaths come from donated money, and people managing them will use the money wisely, that is buy the cheapest so they can benefit the most. And products made in the usa is twice the price of goods made in china. You should be thankful that somebody placed a wreath on your father’s grave because you are too cheap to place one yourself. Next time, donate some money or goods made in america and stop whining. I bet you, you probably haven’t even brought anything to your father’s grave but you have the nerve to complain, you cheap freak…
gna…… Hop Sing

Our markets are absolutely flooded with Chiners products, it is virtually almost impossible to find USA products.
American companies have sold out the American worker with the help of our Government.
Only thing we can do is have a national general strike, but that too is impossible to ascertain .
My new name will be Hop-Sing…..how about yours ?
gna

dude if you call somebody a loser. . . . you are in fact a loser yourself. . .
janie

Americans paid with their life’s and deformed bodie’s. Wasn’t anything free. His father paid with his life,Freedom isn’t free nor is it cheap.
Carmichael Craig

My cloths, Car, ot TV are not meant to honor a veteran who might of died fighting communism…. I did reach out to Wreaths across America first…. I found out they had nothing to do with the wreaths that were made in China….

Yes I miss my dad but this is only about putting commie made wreaths on American veterans graves…. If they had placed these wreaths at regular cemetery’s I’d have no problem!
jackie

Ya calvet (my foot) I would rather “NO” wreath placed on my sons grave, if you are a vet I am a two headed 12 eyed beauty queen you cheap disgusting unamerican troll.
Carmichael Craig

Part of China was our ally in WW2… During the Korean and Vietnam wars Chinese troops killed American solders….
Carmichael Craig

No…. It’s about wreaths!!!! Nor is it about unions!! Look at the #1 economy in the world for the last 30 years…. Germany! Germany is almost all unionized and their economy is still strong!!!

How could this be? The unions stop the outsourcing of high paying good jobs….
Carmichael Craig

Calvet, Your a sick evil person!!!

People like you are what’s wrong with this country!!!! Always thinking about saving a penny at all cost no matter what the consequences….

I’m the person in this story and if you looked you would of seen I have decorated his grave with many personal items!!!

You would made a great evil CEO or scrooge
Meema

For those of you who were at the VA Cemetery on December 10th should know that we were informed that the wreaths were made by some man in the United States who started this years ago…no mention of the Federal Government funding. We purchased our Wreaths for my Father, Uncle, and cousin to have them placed on each grave site. So when the ceremony was over the local Boy Scouts of America were on hand to help place this Wreaths as the many other people who stood or sat on that frozen morning honoring our military men and woman along with their family members who share their grave site. I felt that by placing the wreaths was the most wonderful thing that the committee can do for those that has served our country. And to be able to get the donation in our economic times! With that said, yes all materials that have to be used or place for any “government” uses should ‘only’ be made in America!!! Somewhere we lost that along the line.
Carmichael Craig

Thank you to all of you who get the real meaning of this story….

I in no way was trying to disparage anyone who volunteered their time to place the wreaths or those who donated money to purchase the wreaths….

All I was trying to point out is the irony of placing communist made wreaths on the graves of American veterans…..

Some of you might be too young to understand the significance of this….Here is a good analogy. Imagine if your parents were killed and the killer placed flowers on their grave…. That’s how I felt!!!!
gna

-_- 8) >:( (^^^)

Yea Man Lets smoke some pot . . .that will make all the bummers go away . . .
Carmichael Craig

David, I’m hoping your under 30……

Yes all those countries are now trading partners of the USA. Their is nothing wrong with being open and friendly to countries we were once fighting.

But we are not allies with these counties,China is not a friend of America…. We might have to fight China again in the not to far future… China is hardly a wealthy nation…..

Their is a big difference between buying a shirt made in China and placing a Chinese made wreath on a veterans grave… If you can’t see that then I feel sad for you!!
calvet

Craig,
I figured out you are the ugly disgusting person in this story. Trying to get much needed attention, you should be ashamed of yourself. If I were you, I would be ashamed to be seen in public. If you really want to make a difference, make a donation and tell them you want something made in the usa. If not, you are just ugly as your whining.
woolee

Update: the owner of Worcester Wreath Company called me, we had a very nice conversation. Apparently, Sacramento did NOT order their wreaths from them, as part of the program. They searched out their own. Wreaths Across American was founded by Morrow Worcester. Each of the 25,000 wreaths are hand created in his place of biz, and each bow is hand tied of American Ribbon. Nothing else is acceptable by him.. Sacramento did NOT partake of the Wreaths Across America wreaths. They may have a few of them, but not the majority. Worcester Wreath Company supplies 741 military monuments and cemeteries across the US and World. Sacramento wanted to do their own… It is now time for Mike Dello Stritto to contact Sac. National Cemetery and do a little better research… If Mr. Craig Allen was available, Mr. Worcester would like to apologize to him, himself.. and to explain the wreaths are not his, not of his program and tell him how much he values his father’s service to the people of this country… He is a very humble man, in my opinion…
Rusty

Get over it, ingrate. If you cared so much, why didn’t you make your own wreath with your own little fingers?
Rusty

Too bad no one is fighting Obama communism now.
woolee

see my update below
Carmichael Craig

I spoke to someone at Wreaths Across America yesterday and have gone out of my way to let everyone know they did not have anything to do with the wreaths made in China……

He doesn’t owe me and apology, if anything I owe him one… I told the station ever and over yesterday that Wreaths Across America had nothing to do with this story… That it was a local splinter group of veterans that decided to save a few pennies… But they didn’t put that in the story!!!
Prancer and Dancer

Rusty be a good little troll and go back under your bridge and play with the toads, thats a good troll, ya be good now its almost time for Santa you don’t want us to forget to stop at your bridge do you?
Carmichael Craig

It’s idiots like you that would sell your sole and dignity to save a few pennies that are dragging this country down!!!!
Millicent Bulstrode

I’m sorry, but I have to agree with Mr. Allen. These wreaths are a symbolic statement in appreciation of lives given for their country. These are WWII vets who died for liberty and freedom from communism and tyranny. The very least that should have been done was for who ever placed the wreaths to have had the good grace to remove the made in China stickers. These wreaths make a symbolic statement into a mockery. The joke would not have been lost on the Chinese government. They are very keen on symbolism. They would have a good laugh if the knew.
Carmichael Craig

Figured it out? Really??? I’ve been posting and saying it was me since they ran the story…. I’m not ashamed of anything!!!

Apparently the people who are ashamed are the local ones who made the decision to break away from the national group to save a few pennies and desecrated my fathers grave in the process!!!
Millicent Bulstrode

Prancer and Dancer,
Have any of your loved ones given their very lives in defense of our Country and freedom from tyrants and despots? Many men and women have died to defend an idea. That idea is that other men and women have a God given right to freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Some vets return and wonder if all they gave was even worth it when people like you don’t even care. The least we can do is not mock their sacrifice. You are mocking the families affected by the sacrifice their loved ones have made. When such a sacrifice is made the entire family is never the same. If they gave so much to protect an idea, then the least we can do in symbolic appreciation is to be sensitive to the way the lives of generations of their family members were affected.
chaosity

They know now M B I wonder how many manufacturing plants in China are owed by American corporations, the unions ran the companies out of the USA by their costly demands and made it impossible for companies to stay in business in the USA and that is a fact.
woolee

It is important to find out who made the decision to bypass the Wreaths Across American program with “cheaper, imported” wreaths. They need to be dressed down for the decision. It also hurt the Worcester Wreath company of whom the owner is the founder of the program. Sacramento, I think he said, was the only one of the 741 who did not order from them, but are using the logo.. and all the benefits that come with it.. Perhaps Mr. Dello Stritto needs some addressing also. I have left messages, we will see if he calls back. Note: Each of the 25,000 Worcester Wreaths placed on a veteran’s grave has a tag on it that states it was handmade and made 100% in USA… As the child of a Veteran who is interred at the Sac National Veterans Cemetery… I feel I was cheated out of the respect my family deserves by the placing of an imitation wreath bearing the Good Will of the Wreaths Across American and Worcester Wreath company’s intentions to “Do Good”.
faith tyler

In the midst of reading all these comments my 4 year old grandson happened to nestle in next to me on the computer and recited the pledge of allegiance Great timing( it’ s all in the timing) I suddenly realized that we can have these civil disagreements and make our comments and express our personal feelings about things like this issue BECAUSE of the loved ones that are laid to rest at National Cemeteries So God Bless all of us and if we are opposed to imports then let us begin by buying only American and if we want to be sure that decorations on our families graves be only made in America then let us join the volunteers who make such acts of kindness happen
Carmichael Craig

No that’s not a fact…. How come the unions didn’t run the corporations out of Germany??? Germany has way more cost per hour than we do…. Cradle to grave health care, 6 weeks minimum vacation a year…. Germany is the most unionized country in the world and has the strongest economy in the world.

Don’t buy the 1% lies… German unions were strong enough to fight back and prevent the outsourcing of jobs…. If we would of had stronger unions in America we would not have this problem today….
Prancer and Dancer

Millicent Bulstrode no where on any of my posts no where have I mocked any of these families because our family is one of them what is your problem no comprehend what ya read. Yes my brother, son and stepson were all fighting in Vietnam and one came home in a box my son and step son had no choice they were drafted, they went they did’t go to canada to escape, I wish they had by the way. My brother is older and career military, killed during Katrina in Louisiana. Maybe you have started on your Christmas cheer a little soon and are getting posters mixed up. Merry Christmas! Oh I forgot my husbands brother was killed on the Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor when we were just little kids kids.
Prancer and Dancer

faith tyler yours is the very best post on this subject(my opinion anyway)thank you, you are 100% correct. GOD BLESS you and everyone else on here.
faith tyler

Thank you so much I always try to keep the PEACE and look at things with common sense and in the end only kindness matters Bless you too
Prancer and Dancer

OMG I cannot believe I left Robert out (an age thing)my husbands brother was a marine killed on Okinawa he lost a big brother on Okinawa and an uncle on the Oklahoma.
Don Mcgovern

I can understand where you are coming from I once was handed a camoflodged pencil one forth of july from a us marine and the pencil was made in china .I said sorry no thank you you guys fight too keep our country from fallinh into the hands of comunism !
PJ

I appreciate your clarification, and sincerely admire that you stood up for what you believed in. The original report now appears almost titillating in its brevity. If the station had reported the entire story, I’m sure that your original concern would have been more acknowledged and understood, even if not agreed with. We unconsciously exercise our American rights as a form of entitlement; when, in fact, those rights can be chipped away when we forget/discount the heavy price that was paid for them. Patriot-wise, I’m sure that you father would have admired you for confronting this silent form of disloyalty. ‘Blessings to you and your family.
PJ

Of course, Communist China 2011 is far different than in WWII 1941, when FDR signed the Lend-Lease Bill to aid China (against Japan). At the time, the lesser of two evils. Different from when Nixon was praised for his work with China, when he believed having an earlier open relationship with China would have avoided its intervention in Korea. Years ago, there was anger over “Made in Japan”…Now, it’s “Made in China”. Underlying this issue is the hypocrisy of the US government in allowing its corporations to exploit the lower costs of communism, while expecting its people to “be patriotic” and die for those financial opportunities. The anger of these posts affirms how we’ve been divided.
facts&fictions

Hey Craig, Don’t Worry Bro..Communism is a system just like Capitalism they both has it own way of controlllng/prosperity etc.. its citizenships. eg) Bush=Capitalist & Castro=Communism. Just depends how the leader runs the system modifies/dictates the truth equality system. We no longer made any stuff in USA, besides hot dogs and hamburgers. In fact you its rare that you’ll find stuff made & sold at any Dept Stores. China started to become one of our allies, just as the Japan did decades ago, so get your rage over it
Kathy Watson

The Sacramento Valley National Cemetery Support Committee ordered 2,800 wreaths from Wreaths Across America. Those wreaths were placed in two sections of the cemetery on December 10, 2011
Carmichael Craig

Facts&fictions,

I’m hoping your still in high school, as you have a lot to learn about the world….

China is not one of Americas allies…. Japan is not pointing nuclear weapons at us… The fact is sooner or later American troops will be fighting Chinese troops in the south China Sea or over Taiwan in the next 5 years or so….