Friday morning, December 9th, the Volunteer Hose Company of Middletown provided a flag detail for the Wreaths Across America event that passed through Middletown. Members and career staff of the department made sure that both of the departments aerials were set up along East Main Street with a large American Flag hung to honor the families of those passing through the town. The following was printed from the Middletown Transcript online: Less than a year after he graduated from Middletown High School, Marine Lance Corporal Anthony P. Roberts was killed by hostile fire in Iraq at the age of 18. On Friday morning, the Bear man and his mother were honored by Wreaths Across America at a ceremony at his alma mater. “It’s a blessed day,” Emma Roberts said after laying a wreath atop her son’s memorial in front of the school. This year, Wreaths Across America volunteers will place about 400,000 wreaths at the base of tombstones of veterans in all 50 states, said Appoquinimink School District Public Information Officer Lilian Miles. The convoy made a stop at Middletown High School to promote their mission, “Remember-Honor and Teach,” as they make their way to Arlington National Cemetery where they will decorate scores of graves with wreaths, she said. He was always into the military, Emma Roberts said of her son. “He had his mind on it really since Sept. 11,” she said. The 2003 graduate belonged to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton, Calif. On April 6, 2004 he lost his life in the Anbar Province of Iraq. For this, he was buried as a Purple Heart recipient. “We honor your son,” Middletown High School Principal Jim Comegys said in his closing remarks at Friday’s ceremony. Behind him, wreaths lined the stage in the school’s auditorium. “It warms my heart that these wreaths will warm the hearts of those in Arlington,” Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden said. At the beginning of the ceremony, Mrs. Roberts received a standing ovation as she was introduced. “When Mrs. Robert mailed me Anthony’s picture, I saw him as a beautiful man,” said Delaware Gold Star Mother Judy Campbell. “Anthony asked for things for the Iraqi children.” After the wreath was placed on Roberts’ memorial, the color guard trumpet sounded out and veterans held their flags high. “Through Mrs. Roberts’ grief, she has picked up the torch,” Campbell said. “Delaware honors Gold Star Mothers.”