Wreaths Across America

Honoring those fallen during holiday season
Wreaths Across America Houston will host ceremony honoring fallen heroes on Dec. 12 at Houston National Cemetery.
By KIMBERLY POORE
Updated: 12.01.09
The Northwest Houston community is gathering to honor fallen veterans with a ceremony of wreaths across their graves.

On Dec. 12 Wreaths Across America Houston, Houston Cy-Fair Lions along with several other organizations will gather at the Houston National Cemetery located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, at 11 a.m. to lay wreaths across veterans graves to honor those who served their country.

The Houston Cy-Fair Lions have spent the last few months collecting donations to purchase wreaths to be placed on the graves.

“We have been out selling wreaths and collecting donations to place the wreaths on the soldier’s graves,” said Houston Cy-Fair Lion Spokesperson, Theresa Casey. “Some of our group had participated last year, so this year we wanted to make sure everyone participated. We look for needs in the community and we try to help with that need. It is part of giving back to the community. We have raised more than $1500 for this cause.”

Casey said the community was more than willing to rally in support of this cause.

“The people are wonderful,” Casey said. “They are more than willing to help honor our soldiers. Several people bought several wreaths. We took names of specific soldiers buried in the cemetery and assured them that the solider receives a wreath. People even offered to help lay the wreaths and have three boy scouts troops coming out to help.”

The Wreaths Across America started fifteen years ago. The Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, MA began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of the Nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.

Since the beginning the Worcester Wreath Company has donated over 75,000 wreaths which have been placed by volunteers in a wreath laying ceremony each December.

Houston did not have a Wreaths Across America program until 2007.

Scott DeMasi and his son wanted to attend the Houston ceremony when they were told there wasn’t one. At this time Houston National Cemetery only received seven large wreaths, representing each of the seven branches of services and the MIA/POW’s.

Wreaths Across America Houston began its challenge to honor fallen soldiers, raise funds, recruit volunteers and place a wreath on all 53,000+ grave sites at the Houston National Cemetery last year.

They were unable to reach there goal, but did place wreaths on more than 14,000 graves.

For more information on Wreaths Across America Houston program visit www.waahouston.com.

For more information on the Houston Cy-Fair Lyons visit houstoncy-fairlions.org.

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