Not all Wreaths Across America ceremonies take place in cemeteries. In fact, our very own State House Ceremonies throughout the country illustrate that. However, one ceremony takes place on a historical battlefield preserved in the state of Delaware, thanks in part to a long-standing volunteer U.S. Army Lt. Col (ret.) Bill Conley. Bill refers to himself as an amateur historian and natural teacher with thirty-seven years of teaching high school Social Studies behind him.

Bill started his journey with Wreaths Across America as the volunteer location coordinator at Cooch Bridge Battlefield, Delaware’s only battlefield site. “The Cooch family preserved their farm since 1753,” Bill explained of the historical significance of the property. “They entered into an agreement with the state that it would remain preserved after its purchase. On September 3, 1777 Colonial Soldiers encountered British-Hessian armies on march to capture Philadelphia. 24 Colonial soldiers lie in unmarked graves on that battlefield.” Bill says a team of dedicated volunteers hosts those activities in Newark.

In 2021, Bill expanded his reach and is in his second year of hosting a Wreaths Across America ceremony in downtown Wilmington, at Colonial Brandywine Village. “The Village has a heavy Revolutionary War history with Washington, Lafayette, and Gen. Green visiting often in 1777 and 1778. Their goal was to purchase flour from the Quaker Millers along the Brandywine River. The Village is now surrounded by a diverse population. However, a significant number of inner-city African American folks do not historically see their culture represented in the colonial stories. At this point in American history, many of America’s minorities don’t see their culture's role in the American Revolution, in American history and that’s sad because the role is there, it just never made the history books,” Bill explained. “I’m sharing with children, especially minority children in Delaware, stories of unsung heroes of their culture who played a role in the creation of America.” Bill believes the wreath-laying portion of the mission is important at the more rural and spacious cemeteries, but much can be gained in urban settings with ceremony-only programs. “Having ceremonies where minority children can see, and in our case participate in, is a key ingredient to enlighten them and teach them the love and evolution of the American system of government.”

Bill served to protect the American system of government beginning his military career in the ROTC out of the University of Delaware and finishing up a twenty-eight-year career in the Army and Army Reserve in military intelligence, civil affairs, and psychological operations.

Bill’s son also served, and the family understands the meaning of sacrifice. “My son, Major Kevin Conley, was wounded in Afghanistan and when he got back, he relayed to me and my wife his desire to help homeless vets,” Bill shared. “My wife and I, at my son’s request, opened a center in Middletown, Delaware and we’ve been open three years. Last night we had nine homeless vets in there. Homeless vets are all around us and most of them don’t carry around flags and say, ‘oh, pity me, pity me’ but they’re out there drifting from shelter to shelter. We named the center Brian Conley after our other son whom we lost to a GBM brain tumor. He was always doing random acts of kindness. Since our beginning, we’ve had eighty vets living between six to fifteen months in our shelter getting back on their feet. We help them find a job and an apartment and they get back to independent living again.”

Despite personal challenges and setbacks, Bill Conley focuses on his desire to find a way to serve. Thank you, Bill, and all those who work with you in Delaware to remember, honor, and teach.

You can hear more of Bill’s interview in the What’s Your Why feature on Wreaths Across America Radio.